Bronx DA holds anti-gun violence march as arrest made in deadly shooting
CLAREMONT, The Bronx (WABC) -- Hours after announcing the arrest of a suspect in a deadly shooting, the Bronx district attorney led a march against gun violence Thursday.
About 100 demonstrators gathered at Mott Playground, said a prayer, and then carried signs and chanted as they marched to Claremont Park, through a neighborhood that has seen a high number of shootings amidst a citywide spike in violence.
Bronx D.A. Darcel Clark called on victims and witnesses in gun violence cases to come forward so that police can make arrests and she can prosecute the gunmen.
"We're not getting any cooperation. So instead of being able to apprehend the person who has done that shooting, hold them accountable and stop the shooting, without cooperation then it becomes retaliation. So, therefore, another shooting happens and more violence and it just perpetuates itself until people say enough is enough," Clark said.
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Faith leaders who joined Clark in the march said their focus is to work with the youth, to provide them with counseling, and to, hopefully, steer them on the right path.
"We are shooting each other, Black Lives Matter, but it has to matter first to us to our communities," said Pastor Jay Gooding.
The DA says there's a bigger problem of retaliation shootings.
Earlier Thursday, Clark announced the arrest of Kalvin Robinson, a parolee who police say shot three people in the hallway of a building the night of July 5, killing two of them.
One of the victims had allegedly been involved in a drive-by shooting just four hours earlier in which Robinson's brother, Anthony, was gunned down as he walked with his 6-year-old daughter.
Community members say one way to stop the violence is for the neighborhoods to come together with police. Youth programs could also help, but many are unsure how to reach out to gang members to get them back on the right track.
"I'm tired of seeing candles on every corner of my block it has to stop," said activist Tracy Woodall.
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