Columbia organizations call on city leaders to help at-risk youth after juvenile gets arrested in deadly shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two organizations that help at-risk youth in Columbia said it's time for the community to step up and take youth crime seriously.

This comes as a juvenile was arrested in relation to a deadly April shooting in Columbia.

"What else does Columbia need to see happen to our youth to make them realize something needs to start being done now?" said executive director of P.E.A.C.E., Julian Jackman.

The shooting took place April 11 in the 3300 block of Premier Lane, killing 18-year-old Derek Silvey.

Columbia Police posted on social media Wednesday they arrested a minor in connection to that shooting on suspicion of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and felony stealing.

Data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Criminal Justice Information Services shows there have been 38 gun-related crimes committed in Columbia by people ages 10-17 so far in 2024.

This is the third-highest range in the data set. The most gun offenses committed by age group are 54 crimes by people ages 18-24, followed by 52 crimes by those in the 25-34 age range.

Victims in Columbia's gun crimes are mainly people in the 18-24 age range, followed by those 10-17 and 25-34, respectively.

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However, the executive director of Destiny of H.O.P.E., Lonnie Lockhart Bey, said people need to look past the numbers and instead look at the people. He said people need to realize at-risk youth come from different backgrounds.

"Socio-economic impoverishment causes conditions that ultimately create conditional situations that we are now calling crime. Nobody wakes up to go and just go do something," Lockhart Bey said. "All of this has to do with circumstances that people find themselves in and they lack hope."

Lockhart Bey and Jackman said they have helped over 500 children through their work in the community and at their center on Providence Road. They said the most impactful thing they do for the children they help is provide a safe space free from trauma and judgement.

"Give them the opportunity to grow in their own space, to be who they believe that they want to be," Lockhart Bey said. "And what happens with time as they continue to grow, they figure out things."

He and Jackman said they're tired of the community not taking the issue of youth violence seriously. They said city leaders, police, schools and community members all need to come together.

"When we're having these conversations about what needs to be done in the community, you don't see the true stakeholders sitting at the table," Jackman said.

In response to this, a Columbia Public Schools spokesperson said in an email, "The district has many programs, supports, and resources it offers to students during the school day. There are also many community organizations that provide support for students when they are not at school."

The city and Columbia Police Department did not respond for comment Thursday.

ABC 17 News previously reported a new Office of Violence Prevention is currently in the city's Fiscal Year 25 budget. If approved, it will allocate $500,000 toward local agencies and services.

As community members, Jackman and Lockhart Bey said people can help by holding their elected officials accountable.

"I think enough has happened that this should be a reason for coming together and getting something done for our youth," Jackman said.

"Not to incarcerate, not to put to the wayside, but to help," Lockhart Bey added. "To help them get to where they need to be."