Orlando Mayoral Candidate and retired Police Commander, Samuel B. Ings, has raised a clarion call for urgent action in response to the alarming surge in youth homicides caused by gun violence within the Carver Shores Community. The tragic killing of 6-year old Ajahliyah Hashim in a drive-by shooting while watching television in her living room has ignited outrage among Orlando residents. The incident, which occurred last week, also left her mother wounded.
People involved in urban gun violence often live in communities defined by decades of disinvestment and isolation from state institutions, social services and education that could help them succeed. They’re also often struggling with trauma, says Live Free USA’s Antonio Cediel, who helps communities like Orlando launch gun violence reduction programs.
The gravity of the situation was further emphasized by another shooting incident in the same area, where three lives were lost earlier this year. This marked the second time in less than six months that innocent lives were taken due to gun violence in the Carver Shores community. A previous incident on April 9, 2023, witnessed a deadly shooting during an Easter egg hunt at Poppy Park, resulting in the death of three individuals and injuries to two others. This week, another incident involving gun violence occurred at Poppy Park. Thankfully, there were no injuries.
Samuel B. Ings passionately stated, “The heart-wrenching reality is that a child’s life was cut short within the safety of her own home. We must take a proactive stance by increasing police patrols in our communities. The current situation demands that we prioritize prevention over simply responding to crime scenes. The residents of Carver Shores are rightfully demanding enhanced police presence to ensure their safety and well-being.”
However, the issue of gun violence extends beyond the confines of Carver Shores. In the months of April and May 2023, a 14-year old boy lost his life to gun violence on International Drive. Tragically, on South Parramore, a grandmother and her two grandchildren also fell victim to gunshot wounds.
Ings, who brings over 30 years of experience from the Orlando Police Department (OPD) and 13 years of service on the Orlando City Council, representing both the tourist district and the Carver Shores community, stressed, “Gun violence is a collective concern for all of Orlando. We cannot afford to let this crisis go unaddressed. It’s imperative that we treat it as a health crisis and take decisive action to curb its escalation.”
In support of his commitment to safeguarding the community, Ings announced his proposal to assign a police school resource officer to each elementary school within the City of Orlando. This initiative aims to provide an additional layer of protection for elementary school children.
Samuel B. Ings is set to qualify for the ballot in the upcoming Orlando General Election for Mayor on Friday, September 8 at 4:00 P.M. at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2023, encompassing the mayoral race and city commissioner positions for Districts 2, 4, and 6.
Community Violence Intervention
The city has received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act that will be used to expand violence intervention initiatives. Three million dollars of ARPA funds will be used by the Families, Parks and Recreation Department to provide evidence-based Community Violence Intervention in collaboration with the Orlando Police Department.
The overall goals of the program are to reduce homicides in Orlando as well as prevent incidents of gun violence among program participants by working with national experts using strategies that have reduced gun violence in other locations.
Work is based on research demonstrating that a fraction of one percent of people drive the majority of shootings and intervention should be focused on those at highest risk for shooting and being shot to steer them away from violence. These individuals will be referred to “Neighborhood Change Associates” who will intervene to disrupt situations where violence appears imminent and maintain daily contact with participants. The NCA’s will also serve as mentors, case managers and life coaches with the goal of pivoting participants away from circumstances that lead to violence and towards one of non-violent, economically and socially productive lives.
Orlando will contract with Advance Peace which has successfully helped decrease gun violence in multiple cities, including Richmond, California where shooting involving injury and death have decreased 82-percent since 2007. The Advance Peace model has shows success in Stockton, CA, Sacramento, CA and Fort Wayne, TX.
An independent evaluation will be carried out to measure the extent to which the CVI achieves its goals.
FRRC is a grassroots, membership organization run by Returning Citizens, Formerly Incarcerated Persons (FIPs) in partnership with allies. We are dedicated to ending the disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with convictions, and creating a more comprehensive and humane reentry system that will enhance successful reentry, reduce recidivism, and increase public safety.
