Written by Tanya Terry
About 2,000 people gathered in the downtown area as part of the 810 Day celebration.
But, unfortunately, an 18-year-old Flint woman was shot and killed tragically there at around 10 p.m. August 10 there.
Mayor Sheldon Neeley said a press conference was called because people in the city needed to “step up” and because city officials were looking for a “ collective response” to gun violence within Flint city limits.
Law enforcement cannot do it alone,” said Neeley. “We’re here with MSP, Flint PD and the University of Michigan, as well as the county sheriff’s department is engaged as well. But we cannot enforce our way out of where we are. It’s going to take faith-based leaders, clergy, educators, elected officials. We have to do this. The city of Flint is the only community inside the state of Michigan that’s still under a gun violence emergency.”
Neeley said the City and its partners had “been doing a wonderful and fantastic job taking guns off the streets and destroying guns.”
“However, that’s not enough,” Neeley added. “We need to do more.”
According to the mayor, the City of Flint will be engaging in curfews and enforcement of curfews with the support of its law enforcement agencies.
Neeley also said: “We need to restore faith, inspiration and hope into the minds of our young people.”
He noted that had already started being done through various programs, including job training programs, de-escalation programs and tutelage programs,
“…But definitely we need more people on board to be able to engage in this.”
The mayor introduced Faith Junior, a recent high school graduate who he said was part of the City’s Youth Council and had witnessed some of the stuff that went. Junior offered a young person’s perspective about living and trying to go through difficult times.
“Yesterday, during Flint’s 810 Day, a day was meant for celebration. Our city’s history, culture and pride. Our community faced a tragic moment. What should have been a time of unity and joy was interrupted by violence… I was there. I remember hearing gunshots for my first time last night that disrupted last night. In that instant, the atmosphere changed. A painful reminder that we cannot take safety for granted. But there’s also a reminder that we need to, that we must rise together and create a change. In Ecclesiastics 4:12, it says, ‘A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.’ Our strength lies in our unity.”
According to Vice President of the Flint City Council Candice Mushatt, the council is working to expand a public safety plan focused on prevention She also noted the council was committed to “making sure that the budget and the money reflect a way that helps Flint move forward in a better place.”
Mushatt said “And I stand before you today committed on behalf of city council leadership to hold more community meetings, to show up with law enforcement, to make sure that any laws or ordinances that we enact are ordinances that work for the people and that are by the people, and to make sure that any budgetary items that we move forward are things that can help.”
Flint Police Chief Terence Green talked about the fact the 18-year-old young female was having a a joyous time downtown, and her life is cut short by a stray bullet.
“We’re going to have the curfew in place for Back to the Bricks,” stated Green. “Definitely. We do that every year. That’s at 6 p.m. And if you’re a juvenile, 17 and below, you must have an adult or guardian with you to be downtown in this area during Back to the Bricks.
Green urged whoever committed the shooting to turn their self in.
“Definitely we’re coming for you if you don’t,” he said.
Pastor Lonnie Brown recalled when the community policed itself.
He added: “We had activities in schools, community continuing education and community activities: softball, basketball, baseball… But we can’t sit back because things don’t exist now and say our hands are tied, and we can’t do anything.”
According to Brown, Neeley has pulled together a group of pastors and clergy members to have regular meetings to see what the level of the clergy and their involvement could be to help curb some of the violence.
A 16-year-old boy from Flint was also shot during the 810 Day event. He was treated for injuries at a hospital and listed in good condition.
According to the Michigan State Police, there were no suspects at publication time.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call Det. Trooper Stockmeyer at (517) 898-7831, to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245) or to download the P3Tips mobile app.
