Young victims of gun violence in the Louisville Metro were recognized during a ceremony at UofL Hospital that showed the impact of the senseless shootings on families.In 2021, 97 young people under the age of 17 have been affected by violence. Of those, 24 died, according to data from the Future Healers organization, which helped put on the ceremony.Candy Linear spoke Wednesday about how gun violence has affected her life.”On July 21, I sat on my porch and I heard gunfire not knowing that that gunfire was killing my baby,” Linear said.Her daughter Nylah Linear, 16, was shot in a drive-by shooting.Continuing coverage: Grammy winner ‘Master P’ donates toys to child survivors of gun violence in Louisville”It’s been five months and it seems like an eternity,” Linear said. “I never realized how much gun violence (would) affect me and my family. I never thought it could happen to me.”Survivors of gun violence, like 11-year-old Alexis Lewis, were also at the gathering. She has undergone multiple surgeries for her hand after being wounded when a stray bullet went through her room in July.Her mother Jessica Goins knows it is something her daughter shouldn’t have to go through.”It hurts to know that she’s been through it and that we have to come out of a hole,” Goins said. “It’s not the worst injury that can happen but it’s something we would never have thought that would have happened.”The surge in violence among young people has affected doctors as well who see firsthand the ripple effects of the violence. UofL Hospital Dr. Keith Miller became emotional when speaking at the ceremony.Finding solutions: Two JCPS schools offering mentor program aimed at curbing youth crime rate in Louisville”We’ve got children in our neighborhoods who go to sleep to the sound of gunfire, who wake up in the morning and think about how they’re going to get to school safely,” Miller said through tears. “We have children in our community that carry the grief and loss throughout the entire day. Difficult problem, not an impossible problem. We can all do more.”It is why Future Healers organizer Christopher 2X says the group does make a difference.”The Future Healers are just what we call humanitarian advocates. To say, no we can’t stop the bleed, we can’t intervene in shootings, but we bring hope,” 2X said.The city has reached 187 homicides this year. It is the highest in the city’s history.
Young victims of gun violence in the Louisville Metro were recognized during a ceremony at UofL Hospital that showed the impact of the senseless shootings on families.
In 2021, 97 young people under the age of 17 have been affected by violence. Of those, 24 died, according to data from the Future Healers organization, which helped put on the ceremony.
Candy Linear spoke Wednesday about how gun violence has affected her life.
“On July 21, I sat on my porch and I heard gunfire not knowing that that gunfire was killing my baby,” Linear said.
Her daughter Nylah Linear, 16, was shot in a drive-by shooting.
Continuing coverage: Grammy winner ‘Master P’ donates toys to child survivors of gun violence in Louisville
“It’s been five months and it seems like an eternity,” Linear said. “I never realized how much gun violence (would) affect me and my family. I never thought it could happen to me.”
Survivors of gun violence, like 11-year-old Alexis Lewis, were also at the gathering. She has undergone multiple surgeries for her hand after being wounded when a stray bullet went through her room in July.
Her mother Jessica Goins knows it is something her daughter shouldn’t have to go through.
“It hurts to know that she’s been through it and that we have to come out of a hole,” Goins said. “It’s not the worst injury that can happen but it’s something we would never have thought that would have happened.”
The surge in violence among young people has affected doctors as well who see firsthand the ripple effects of the violence. UofL Hospital Dr. Keith Miller became emotional when speaking at the ceremony.
Finding solutions: Two JCPS schools offering mentor program aimed at curbing youth crime rate in Louisville
“We’ve got children in our neighborhoods who go to sleep to the sound of gunfire, who wake up in the morning and think about how they’re going to get to school safely,” Miller said through tears. “We have children in our community that carry the grief and loss throughout the entire day. Difficult problem, not an impossible problem. We can all do more.”
It is why Future Healers organizer Christopher 2X says the group does make a difference.
“The Future Healers are just what we call humanitarian advocates. To say, no we can’t stop the bleed, we can’t intervene in shootings, but we bring hope,” 2X said.
The city has reached 187 homicides this year. It is the highest in the city’s history.
