Pittsburgh leaders tout efforts to stem violence

Twelve-year-old Ah’Kill Creighton was playing basketball outside one day last year when he witnessed his first murder.

He recalled hearing a gunshot and seeing someone fall.

“I got scared, because it was the first time I ever saw somebody die,” said Creighton, of Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood, during a news conference Friday led by city Mayor Ed Gainey to discuss violence prevention efforts.

Creighton called for peace.

“The gun violence and kids being in the gang — there’s a lot of young folks dying, kids, teenagers, grownups dying,” he said.

Though the city last year saw a 26% increase in homicides, Pittsburgh is seeing less violent crime so far in 2023, said David Jones, the city’s assistant director of community affairs.

Nonfatal shootings throughout the city are down by 28% in the first three months of the year compared to this time last year, he said. There had been 18 homicides in the city by this time last year, he said, compared to 16 so far this year.

Though officials didn’t offer a specific explanation for the downturn in crime, Gainey did offer thanks to the many organizations for doing their part to curb violence, including Cares REACH.

Representatives from several organizations — including some of the more than 30 groups that received nearly $1 million in the city’s Stop the Violence Grants — were in attendance Friday, touting initiatives ranging from mentorship programs and college visits to after-school programs and athletic opportunities.

Many such organizations work with the city’s youth. One such program, Project Destiny, offers two after-school programs, two early learning centers and other resources.

“We know if we begin with them (children) early on, they will make a difference in our communities,” said the Rev. Brenda Gregg, who spearheads Project Destiny.

Thanks to Stop the Violence grant money, she said, they’ll be able to expand their programming to include a behavioral health professional.

“It’s time to do everything we’ve got to do to save our children,” Gainey said. “I’m taking this violence on head on. I’m calling all my men and women in the community to say enough is enough. We need you. The kids need you.”