After a quadruple shooting in Westwood on Saturday left two children in critical condition, community members are outraged.Officials are already pushing for more effective solutions to gun violence this summer.The shooting happened at McHenry and Cavanaugh avenues just after 6 p.m.Investigators said a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old were shot, and at least one has life-threatening injuries.It's a situation that leaves people feeling uneasy and angry."I heard this about this 6-year-old and 8-year-old and I said, 'Look, it's time for me to get back out there,'" State Sen. Cecil Thomas said.Thomas sees a troubling trend in Cincinnati, one that seems awfully familiar."Right after we had civil unrest in 2001, we started to see an uptick in violence, you know, shootings and I remember a child getting shot, and this brought back those memories and I said, 'Wow, we've got to do something about this,'" he said.It was this most recent shooting that jogged his memory.Cincinnati police said, in broad daylight, a 6-year-old and 8-year-old, as well as two men in their late teens were shot.The young victims, who were caught in the crossfire, are at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in critical condition.The men, we're told, had non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.Thomas looks back at the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence at its inception, examining what's happening in the lives of those who are in the streets, tempted to pull the trigger.He said Cincinnati needs the focused approach it once had, which has been weakened by slashed funding.Thomas said it starts with investing in 15 new street advocates who could make all the difference at just the right time."Where now, this individual that may be thinking about firing a gun at 2 o'clock in the morning, he had that advocate that he could call on his cell phone. That advocate was available 24 hours a day. He'd call him and say, 'Hey man, I'm thinking about doing something', so the advocate would meet him and say, 'Naw man, let's talk this out,'" Thomas said.Thomas' vision is that 15 advocates would work with about 30 or so clients to help curb the violence this summer.He said the price tag sits about $500,000.Cincinnati police said they have no suspect information in this latest shooting.Mayor John Cranley said police have "strong leads."Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
After a quadruple shooting in Westwood on Saturday left two children in critical condition, community members are outraged.
Officials are already pushing for more effective solutions to gun violence this summer.
The shooting happened at McHenry and Cavanaugh avenues just after 6 p.m.
Investigators said a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old were shot, and at least one has life-threatening injuries.
It's a situation that leaves people feeling uneasy and angry.
"I heard this about this 6-year-old and 8-year-old and I said, 'Look, it's time for me to get back out there,'" State Sen. Cecil Thomas said.
Thomas sees a troubling trend in Cincinnati, one that seems awfully familiar.
"Right after we had civil unrest in 2001, we started to see an uptick in violence, you know, shootings and I remember a child getting shot, and this brought back those memories and I said, 'Wow, we've got to do something about this,'" he said.
It was this most recent shooting that jogged his memory.
Cincinnati police said, in broad daylight, a 6-year-old and 8-year-old, as well as two men in their late teens were shot.
The young victims, who were caught in the crossfire, are at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in critical condition.
The men, we're told, had non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Thomas looks back at the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence at its inception, examining what's happening in the lives of those who are in the streets, tempted to pull the trigger.
He said Cincinnati needs the focused approach it once had, which has been weakened by slashed funding.
Thomas said it starts with investing in 15 new street advocates who could make all the difference at just the right time.
"Where now, this individual that may be thinking about firing a gun at 2 o'clock in the morning, he had that advocate that he could call on his cell phone. That advocate was available 24 hours a day. He'd call him and say, 'Hey man, I'm thinking about doing something', so the advocate would meet him and say, 'Naw man, let's talk this out,'" Thomas said.
Thomas' vision is that 15 advocates would work with about 30 or so clients to help curb the violence this summer.
He said the price tag sits about $500,000.
Cincinnati police said they have no suspect information in this latest shooting.
Mayor John Cranley said police have "strong leads."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
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