Tacoma mayor calls for cease-fire amid uptick of gun violence
City leaders in Tacoma are calling for peace amid an uptick in gun violence. To Marlin Henderson, the "City of Destiny" is going through some growing pains.
"There's always been a struggle, a good struggle and a good desire to improve, so for this community, this particular issue is not new," said Henderson.
Henderson is a gang violence intervention expert who works with an organization called Tuff Love. For nearly two decades, Henderson has helped steer kids away or out of a life of crime in Tacoma. His job is not an easy one and it hasn't been made easier by a current rise in violence.
He said he's hearing about more shootings and violence in the city.
"There's access to guns, there are young people out there carrying guns not really knowing how to resolve conflict," he said.
The numbers back up what Henderson has been hearing about.
According to Mayor Victoria Woodards, the city averages about 16 homicides a year. Already in 2019, there have been 22 in Tacoma.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tacoma-mayor-calls-for-cease-fire-amid-uptick-of-gun-violence/ar-AAHssay
