NEW ORLEANS — With violent crime dropping in New Orleans, one statistic stands out.
“In the past one year, we have decreased juvenile homicides by 71 percent,” NOPD Supt. Ann Kirkpatrick said at a recent NOLA Coalition event.
There have been five children and teenagers killed so far this year in New Orleans. That’s compared to 17 during this same time last year.
“It is comforting because not having other parents go through what I’m going through because you know, it never goes away,” Nekisha McGlothen said.
Mcglothen’s son Khyron Nellon was 15 when he was shot and killed on Iberville Street three years ago.
Since her son’s death, she has worked to honor his memory by making sure other kids don’t get caught up in the violence.
McGlothin is pushing for more wrap-around mental health and intervention services for young people.
“My thoughts on that is, okay, you dropped 71 percent, how are we going to keep it that way,” McGlothin said. “How are we going to get it to drop 100 percent? How are we going to continue seeing those numbers decline.”
HOPE organization founder Michael Willis says community influencers and leaders have a role to play in helping to prevent juvenile crime.
He suggests when they see a need, step up.
“Am I willing to start a softball team, myself? Am I willing to start a volleyball team, myself? When other people don’t do for us, we’ve got to figure out what we need to do as a village in our own community.”
Overall, murders are down in New Orleans by 37 percent compared to last year.
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