When a 9 year old's life is ended by a bullet, we must all be outraged. These deaths are not mere statistics. And prayers alone will not sooth a broken heart.

How many more families must be torn apart? How many more communities need to be traumatized? How many more children have to die? We’ve had to write these words far too many times just this summer alone.

Gun violence is every bit a public health crisis as COVID-19.

It's well past time that we as a nation begin aggressively treating it through wraparound services, mental health supports and street outreach interventions, support for our community police officers, and—yes—federal gun control to keep firearms from falling into the wrong hands.

While our City has made progress in reducing violence in recent weeks, all of that is lost when we lose another child to gun violence.

We must and will hold those responsible for this shooting accountable. I ask all residents with information on this incident to submit a tip anonymously at http://CPDtip.com .