CONCORD, N.C. — A town hall meeting in Concord focused on keeping teenagers out of the criminal justice system and preventing gun violence following a string of recent local deaths. The event focused on community conversation as a starting point for saving lives.
Recent incidents include a shooting Sunday off Fairington Drive that killed Michael Overstreet and Kemauri Blount of Monroe. Concord police arrested three suspects under the age of 20 and charged them in connection with those deaths.
Last month, two people died in a shooting along Kite Court. Raheem Glascoe Jr., 16, has been charged as an adult in that case. In a separate incident during a local Christmas tree lighting, four people were shot during a dispute between teenagers.
Muhammad, a community advocate, said he organized the meeting to help residents share ideas on how to keep children safe. He noted that both the victims of gun violence and the accused killers pay a price for these actions.
Sean Muhammad organized the town hall to provide a space for the community to heal and identify solutions to the recent violence.
Muhammad, a community leader who organized the event, intended for the meeting to facilitate open communication among residents.
“Number one expectation was to have a conversation with the community, bring the community out so we can talk about some of the things that we may or may not know or we may neglect,” Muhammad said.
The event was largely unscripted and focused primarily on how adults can keep their children out of trouble. Approximately 50 parents and children attended the gathering to share perspectives and strategies.
Asia Barge, a parent and Navy veteran, discussed the rules she maintains in her home to provide structure for her children. She explained that she and her husband restrict the use of electronics during the school week.
“We don’t give them the cell phones, video games, and stuff during the week. They get it on the weekend, and they don’t get it all day,” Barge said.
While the event drew engaged families, Muhammad addressed the difficulty of connecting with parents whose children are already facing serious issues.
“That’s probably the million-dollar question? How do we reach the other side?” Muhammad said.
Organizers hope this will be the first of many town halls and intend for community participation to grow. Muhammad and other organizers stated they would consider the effort worth it if they can save even one child.
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