Program in Lexington to end gun violence

There's a program in Lexington designed to stop gun violence before situations escalate to the point of trying to settle a dispute with a gun, especially among young people.

C1 3 seven of the victims were teenagers as are some of the accused killers.

Abc 36's christy bollinger reports on a city program designed to get to the root of the problem of kids killing kids.

The problem is easy and often hard to solve...stopping violent crime.

The city of lexington is trying with a program called safetynet laura hatfield"i think everyday we wake up and we think how is it that we can better invest in our community, and our youth and our families and i think we'll keep doing that until no more lives are lost and no more guns are used to deal with conflict."

Laura hatfield, director of one lexington, thinks there's more guns on the streets than ever before.

Hatfield"easier access especially for our youth.

Not knowing how to effectively deal with conflict."

That's where safetynet comes in...which is made up of neighbors, mentors, police, faith leaders and social service agencies.

Safetynet gives those involved or impacted by gun violence..

An opportunity to speak with a street outreach worker... someone they can relate to.... like julius johnson.

Julius johnson- street outreach"it kinda suprises a lot of youth when you talk to them and they're like dang you've been through you know what i'm going through."

Johnson says most young people who come through safetynet..

Have witnessed or experienced violence in their past.

Johnson"the gun's is just a symptom and the issues are so much deeper so i bypass the symptom and go straight to talk to try to figure out the root."

He knows from experience that trauma can lead to a life of violence..for a time, that was his life.

He lost two friends at a young age... and says those losses made him want to retaliate with more violence.

Johnson"wanted them to feel the loss the pain i felt."

And that's how he reaches these kids... with personal testimony.

Johnson"the greatest thing i can do is not really scientific or anything it's really just listening."

Lexington's jail