LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There have been nearly 160 shootings in Louisville so far in 2024, according to the Louisville Metro Gun Violence Dashboard.
While this number is down from the same time last year and from 2022, parents who have lost loved ones to gun violence say more still needs to be done.
“These homicides and these murders are continuing and it’s not normal. Don’t you ever think that what’s going on in this city is normal. This is a great city, this is a great West End, we’re great people, we’re great in this community. But do not think that what we’re going through Is normal," said Kenneth Forbes, who lost his son in 2012.
Metro council members Tammy Hawkins, D-District 1, and Jecorey Arthur, I-District 4, hosted a Gun Violence Forum at Southwick Community Center to bring community resources and leaders to the people who have experience gun violence in their neighborhood.
Representatives from Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, Group Violence Intervention, Transformative Justice Healthy Lifestyles Program, Boss not Bangers, Inc., the Louisville Metro Police, and more were in attendance to answer questions and provide resources.
Some parents who lost their child to gun violence expressed their frustration with LMPD detectives not being responsive or sharing updates on their loved ones' cases.
"I am under the impression that they are not doing the work at LMPD, but they are. They’re handling some of the cases, but mine’s fallen through the cracks," said Aundrea Anderson, who lost her son and nephew in 2021.
Lt. Steve Lacefield with LMPD's non-fatal shooting unit urged families to not stop seeking the answers they want about the cases.
“I want to know if my guys aren’t following up with you," he said. “We want to do our best to bring justice to the victim and you as family.”
Councilmember Hawkins called the group to action, urging everyone to be apart of the solution.
"We've got to help LMPD," she said. "When I say boots to the ground, I don't only mean get out there and walk and talk. I mean y'all got to get boots to the ground from the youngest to the oldest."
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