SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – A weekend shooting in Springfield remains under investigation, but as 2024 approaches the half-year mark, answers about the scale of gun violence in the city remain unclear. It’s coming. This year is far away.
Things seem to be heading downhill so far, but there were some positive statements from Springfield police on Monday.
“In terms of shootings, year-to-date, we’re down 40 percent in the number of individuals shot compared to last year,” Springfield Police Department spokesman Ryan Walsh said.
Springfield shootings are down, and new data shows the number of homicides in the city is on the decline compared to record-setting last year.
“There have been six homicides so far this year, five of which are related to gun violence,” Walsh added. “This time last year, there were eight homicides, and we saw a slight increase over the summer, especially in August.”
However, he told Western Mass News there has been a sharp rise in the number of youth engaging in violent acts. Just a few days ago, a young boy was injured in a shooting on Kenyon Street. No word on his current condition.
“In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in youth acquiring and using illegal firearms. Just last week, we saw a 14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder in April. , I don’t think they really understand the consequences of what they’re doing,” Walsh said.
“Just this weekend, a 16-year-old boy from Spring Street was caught breaking into an apartment and a loaded high-capacity firearm was seized,” Walsh said.
Trading guns for games is the key to keeping kids active and off the streets. Mr. Walsh highlighted one of his efforts to focus on this issue.
“Here in the city, we have passes to various community centres, the Boys and Girls Club of the YMCA. We do a lot of work within the police department through coaching, sports and other mentoring to help these young people. ,” Walsh explained.
Walsh added that the department has already recovered about 110 guns so far this year, but the amount of illegal firearms seized is also decreasing.
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