JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While Jacksonville has seen a drastic decrease in murders and homicides compared to last year, News4JAX records show teenage gun violence continues to be a problem.
One of the most recent deadly shootings happened on June 9 on Jacksonville’s Northside, where two 16-year-old boys were shot and killed at an apartment complex.
News like this strikes a chord with Kelly Frazier, the president of the Northside Coalition, an organization that strives to make positive changes in the Northside neighborhoods.
“Heartbreaking. I could not imagine being the parents of those children who were lost to violence,” Frazier said.
The numbers suggest that while overall killings are down in Jacksonville, the number of teenagers being shot to death continues.
In 2019, nine teenagers were shot to death, that number dropped to five in 2020 and 2021, before jumping back up to 10 in 2022.
Last year, nine teens lost their lives to gun violence.
At this time last year, three teens had been killed. Already in 2024, five teenagers have been shot and killed.
According to youth.gov, which compiles data from organizations like the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 12 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 are killed every day, while 1,400 others are injured and taken to local hospitals.
“Each situation is different and there are so many different reasons and outcomes for the reasons people are in the situations that they are,” Frazier said.
Frazier said there are many programs available for children and teenagers that can help them stay away from trouble — especially in the summer — a time when this age group can be more vulnerable because school is not in session.
“There are a lot of different programs out here whether it be at the Y, the city has some programs. I know the issue sometimes is money and even transportation but there are a lot of different help options out here including grants for people who have issues with money so they can get that money so the kids can be in the programs,” Frazier said.
Frazier also shared a message for teenagers.
“If you know it is wrong and you know the people they are hanging with are not good influences, stay away from them,” she said.