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'Time for solid solutions' to violence in Boston, activist says

BOSTON — An increase in violence within the city of Boston has local leaders and residents on edge.

Warmer temperatures typically bring increasing crime rates in Boston, but city leaders said the recent uptick in violence shows they have a lot of work to do.

Within the last two days, police responded to two shootings and two fatal stabbing incidents.

From January to July 2016, there were 94 shooting victims in the city. During that same time period in 2017, there have now been 117 shooting victims.

Friday, Mayor Marty Walsh and Police Commissioner Bill Evans convened community and religious leaders to discuss possible solutions to the violence.

“We talked about sending a police car to community centers at night so families feel safe sending their kids there,” said Mayor Walsh. “Really the conversation was, ‘how can we solve some of these issues without policing?’”

In the most recent shooting, a police cruiser was less than 50 yards away. That shooting resulted in the death of a person believed to be between 18- and 21-years old.

FOX25 News Live Stream

Mayor Walsh, Boston Police talk summer safety strategy at 'Silence the Violence' weekend. https://boston25.com/2sPgcLP

Posted by Boston 25 News on Friday, July 7, 2017

“As a native Bostonian, I’m always deeply saddened and impacted by community violence,” activist Liz Miranda told Boston 25 News. “I see violence as something that is all of our problems. When we lose one young person, we all lose. It’s like burying promise each and every time.”

One of the victims of this past weekend’s violence, Eric Jackson, was a long-term volunteer in Miranda’s Score for More program.

“[That] can show you that even when you want to change your life, your zip code and determine your quality of life or your life expectancy and that’s just not okay,” she said. “It’s time for us to really figure out some real solid solutions … Until we all come together to hold us accountable, it’s going to continue to be a vicious cycle.”

Leaders after Friday's meeting echoed Walsh's call for solutions that don't involve policing, but look for the community to work together to do what's best for the children of the City of Boston.

MORE: Boston police, city leaders meeting to discuss gun violence