COLUMBUS, Ohio — City leaders held a press conference Thursday to discuss the violence in Columbus as the city nears a record number of homicides for one year.
Mayor Andrew Ginther, Council President Shannon Hardin and Department of Neighborhoods Director Carla Williams-Scott delivered statements at Thursday's briefing.
"City Council approved the $80,000 renewed criminologist Dave Kennedy to support the implementation of strategic interventions to reduce violence and improve public safety." Ginther said. "This will start with a six month analysis to generate a current snapshot of who is driving serious violence in Columbus."
"I'm upset. I'm angry. Yes, as Council President, but also as a resident, as a black man. I'm upset on behalf of more than 50 kids under 16 who have ended up in the hospital or worse due to gun violence," Hardin said. "Council voted to expand Shot-Spotter to the near-east side because that technology helps us get guns off the streets."
The city announced $625,000 in grants they will give to groups that are geared to help children in trouble.
The mayor said what the city is seeing today is a different type of violence and requires a different type of approach. He said the average age of a homicide victim in 2019 was 37. In 2020, the average age is 24.
There have been more than 130 homicides in Columbus this year.
Overall, there have been more than 1,600 shootings, stabbings and other felonious assaults in the city in 2020.
The record number of homicides in Columbus is 143, reached in 2017.