Following string of shootings, community leaders band together to keep kids safe

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 15-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot multiple times Monday night in South Linden.

According to Columbus police, this is at least the fourth juvenile shot in Columbus since Sunday.

Ralph Carter, the founder of We Are Linden, said it is heartbreaking to hear about the teen. He is on a mission this summer to keep kids productive and away from trouble with the organization’s programming. This summer, there are about 100 kids involved; last summer, that number was 30.

Tuesday morning Carter spoke to the teens about the shooting, saying it was normal for it to bother them and the only way to do something about it is to get involved with the community.

“Stay encouraged,” Carter said. “You know, we want to continue to pray for the young man that was harmed, and the family, you know, just continue to lift each other up. But only way to do it is together.”

Carter also reiterated the importance of following curfews and staying away from trouble. He said the program creates a safe space for kids to talk about what they are going through.

Police said the boy was shot multiple times around 10:30 p.m. Monday near Hamilton and 21st Avenues.

Emmanuel Towns, 16, said this shooting scares them, but it just motivates them more to keep on the right path.

“Be where you are supposed to be at the right time,” Towns said. “At a young age, you shouldn't be out that long. Parents who normally give their kids curfews and stuff to get home safely.”

The teens said the We Are Linden summer program also encourages them to get jobs to provide for themselves and their families, teaching them responsibility and to be part of change in the community.

“It's good, actually, cause, like, not a lot of people will be put into, like, a good scenario all the time,” Aset Caldwell said. “So when people come here and they'll be themselves and they put themselves in a better situation because everybody doesn't know, like, what people go through behind these doors. So is it.”

The teens say they are thankful for the program and try to bring in as many friends as they can.

Carter said they have several more events coming up in the summer aimed at stopping violence. Their biggest is the annual block party on the last Saturday in August.

“It's a, you know, a safe environment, you know, somewhere they know it's a safe haven for them to keep and stay in fear from a consistent we know is that our biggest thing that we want to make sure that we, every day, keep reciting the same thing over to them every day and eventually they'll get it," Carter said.

Columbus police are still searching for a suspect in Monday’s shooting.