Columbia residents working to end gun violence in their neighborhood

Residents in a northeast Columbia neighborhood are working to bring a positive change to a crime-ridden area.

Sylvan Lane area residents organized a neighborhood ice cream event Saturday afternoon. Residents are partnering with the United Way to host an event each weekend for the next several weeks.

“This is about a unifying event for the community, to get people involved, get them out of their homes, and to really state this is their neighborhood, this is our community, our neighborhood, and to just get together,” said Andrew Grabau, United Way Executive Director.

Ice cream, cake and cookies were all donated by the United Way, University of Missouri and Hy-Vee.

Organizers said turnout was small for the first event, but are hoping to get more of the community involved as the weeks go on.

Since April 25, there have been three separate gun crimes in the area of Sylvan Lane and Whitegate Drive.Gabrielle Rhodes, 24, was shot and killed on April 25 in the 1500 block of Sylvan Lane.

No arrests have been made in any of the incidents.