A recent report by CNN reveals a troubling national trend: gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States, with more than 3,500 fatalities recorded in 2022.
This issue is a concern in major urban centers and it also affects smaller communities such as Leo County.
Local authorities have been working to address youth gun violence through a coordinated, data-driven approach led by the Leon County Council on the Status of Men and Boys.
In Tallahassee-Leon County, a detailed review of homicides from 2015 to 2020 was conducted under the direction of Sheriff Walt McNeil. The project, titled “Anatomy of a Homicide,” analyzed 103 cases involving 108 victims and 125 offenders to identify patterns and root causes of violence.
The findings revealed that most incidents occurred in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, particularly in the 32304 ZIP code, which accounted for 35% of the homicides despite housing only 17% of the county’s population. Griffin Heights, Frenchtown, South City and Bond neighborhoods had some of the highest concentrations of incidents per square mile.
The report found that firearms were involved in 76% of the cases, and at least 35% of those instances, the guns were not legally owned. Young Black males were disproportionately represented, comprising 67% of offenders and 75% of victims, a statistic that mirrors national concerns about racial disparities in gun violence. “The 15-24 age group was the most affected, with 42% of victims and 35% of offenders falling within this age bracket,” the report noted in response to these findings.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with local government and community organizations, established the Council on the Status of Men and Boys in 2022. The Council’s mission is to address the root causes of gun violence, focusing on early intervention and providing support to at-risk youth. This includes school-based and life coach navigators who work directly with young people to offer mentorship, educational resources and job training.
Former Mayor Dot Iman-Johnson, a board member with the Council, emphasized the importance of addressing underlying factors that lead to youth carrying firearms.
“It’s a failure of our community when young men feel they have to arm themselves because they don’t feel safe,” she said. “We need to address the root causes, which include poverty, lack of opportunities and a feeling of neglect in their neighborhoods.”
The Council’s approach is two-fold. First, it targets youth already involved in the criminal justice system, offering them resources to avoid further involvement. Second, it focuses on early intervention for younger children living in high-risk environments.
“We need to identify younger children who are growing up under similar circumstances and work with them early so that they don’t fall into the same patterns,” Iman-Johnson said. “It’s about breaking the pipeline of youth entering the criminal justice system before it starts.”
The threat of gun violence is a daily concern for many parents in Tallahassee, including
Dominique Washington, a local mother who expressed her concerns.
“I just want my son to have a chance to grow up safe. Every day I worry about him falling into the wrong crowd, and I’m scared he might think carrying a gun is the only way to protect himself,” Washington said.
The “Anatomy of a Homicide” report highlighted several key issues the Council aims to address.
For example, the data showed that 84% of offenders had previous criminal charges, and many had been involved in violent crimes as juveniles. This indicates a need for programs that can intervene before youth become repeat offenders. By implementing programs that connect at-risk youth with mentors, job training and educational support, the Council hopes to provide alternatives to illegal activities that often lead to violence.
Iman-Johnson also pointed out the importance of community investment: “We need to make sure that families feel valued and that their neighborhoods are worth investing in. That includes better schools, safe recreational spaces and access to healthcare.”
The Council’s initiatives are supported by ongoing collaborations with schools, law enforcement and community organizations, aiming to create a safer environment for children and teens.
As efforts continue, local authorities and community leaders emphasize the need for ongoing collaboration and investment in the youth and families of Tallahassee to ensure that children can grow up in a community where they feel safe and valued by reducing the need for them to carry firearms and helping them see a future beyond violence.