LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Almost a week after two teenage boys were injured at a shooting outside a PRP High School football game, south end leaders took a seat at the table.
"I feel like a lot of the murders and shootings are related to gangs," said Metro Councilwoman Cindi Fowler of District 14.
Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) has not released details about the motive of the shooting on Sunday.
But, almost immediately, youth violence and gang-related violence led the conversation.
"When they reoffend, we need to make sure that our judicial system is holding them accountable," said LMPD Deputy Chief Emily McKinley.
Over a dozen local, state and federal leaders met in southwestern Jefferson County to discuss the region.
"I've been knocking door-to-door and people are scared to even sit out on their front porch after dark," Fowler told WHAS11 News.
She said public safety is top of mind after the PRP High School football game shooting shook her constituency.
"It is a serious, serious issue," she said. "People are scared."
Congressman Morgan McGarvey also expressed concern.
"When you see a shooting at a high school football game, that's not where people should feel unsafe," McGarvey said. "So, it was just heartbreak."
Just days after the shooting, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said he wants to re-enforce a 1983 mask ordinance that would ban people from wearing masks in outdoor public spaces.
"I commend the mayor for stepping forward and trying to find new ways to combat," Fowler said. "And knowing that the man had a mask on," she added about the suspect of the shooting.
McGarvey didn't answer about his stance on the mask ban and said he's focused on Congress.
In addition to that mask ban, politicians at the state level are also trying to tackle violent crime.
State Representative Jared Bauman said House Bill 5, which took effect this summer, will hold criminals to a new level of accountability.
He said serious offenders are starting to be identified.
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