Groups switching gears to stop violence and keep peace in Buffalo during COVID-19

Since June 1, shootings in Buffalo are up 85%.

Local groups attribute this to the pandemic and are changing strategies to stop this disturbing trend.

GOOD EVENING ONCEAGAIN...I'M KEITH RADFORD...THE VIOLENCE ON THESTREETS IN BUFFALOTHIS SUMMER..... HASNOW LED TO APASTOR WHO WANTSTO JUMPSTART AMISSION OF PEACE...SINCE JUNE FIRST --SHOOTINGS INBUFFALO ARE UPNEARLY 85-PERCENT.AND SINCE THE FIRSTOF AUGUST ....THEREHAVE BEEN THREEHOMICIDES INBUFFALO --TONIGHT A LOCALBISHOP SHARES WITHTAYLOR EPPS HOW HEIS HOPING TO CALMTHIS DISTURBINGTREND..ELAINE "PERSONALLY,IT JUST MAKES MYHEART BREAK."BISHOP PERRY "THIS ISOUT OF CONTROL,EVERYTHING IS OUT OFCONTROL HERE.

THEREIS NO EXCUSE TO GOKILL SOMEONE."VIOLENCE IN BUFFALOHAS STEADILYINCREASEDTHROUGHOUT THESUMMER.BISHOP "IT'S RAMPANT,IT'S GOING WAY TOOFAR WITH THEMURDERS IN OUR CITY.EVERY DAY I'M GETTINGA PHONE CALL.

THISWEEK I'VE GOTTEN SOMANY CALLS."BISHOP PERRY DAVISRUNS THE STOP THEVIOLENCEFOUNDATION...BISHOP "THEY'RELOSING A FATHER,THEY'RE LOSING A SON,THEY COULD BELOSING A DAUGHTER,THIS IS RIDICULOUS.THE ONLY WAY FOR USTO MATTER TO THEREST OF THE WORLD ISIF WE MATTER TOOURSELVES."DAVIS SAYS THEPANDEMIC HAS MADEIT HARDER FOR HIM TODO OUTREACH IN THECOMMUNITY... SO HE'SSWITCHING GEARS.BISHOP "WE'REWORKING ON AVIRTUAL WORKSHOP.WE'RE WORKING ONSOME THINGS THATCAN ACTUALLY BRINGIN SOME ACTUALFINANCES FOR OURYOUTH AND SOME JOBSKILLS."THE BUFFALOPEACEMAKERS AREMAKING SOMEADJUSTMENTS ASWELL.MURRAY "WE'RE GOINGOUT TO THE WESTSIDE.

WE'RE GOING TOHAVE A MEETINGTODAY WITH OURSTAFF AND WE'REGONNA HAVE A PLANTOGETHER TO WALKTHROUGH THE WESTSIDE AND TALK TOPEOPLE."MURRAY HOLMANSAYS THEY'LL BEFOCUSING ON PARTSOF BUFFALO'S WESTSIDE AFTER VIOLENCEERUPTED OVER THEWEEKEND.MURRAY "BEING THATIT'S A HOTSPOT, THEREARE OTHER ELEMENTS,NOT JUST SHOOTINGS,STABBINGS, A YOUNGBABY JUST GOT RUNOVER, WE'RE GOING INTO ADDRESS ALLTHOSE ISSUES TO SEEWHAT THE COMMUNITYNEEDS."ELAINE "IT'S AGAINBEEN HARD WITH THEVIRUS.

WE CAN DOTHINGS AND JUST KEEPA SAFE DISTANCEAPART AND BE MOREPRESENT IN THENEIGHBORHOOD ANDMAYBE THAT WILLHELP."BOTH GROUPS WANTTHE COMMUNITY TOKNOW THEY'RE HERE...TO HELP.ELAINE "IT'S AHEARTACHE, BUT IKNOW WE'LL GETTHROUGH THIS IF WEALL STICK TOGETHER,WE ALL COMETOGETHER, I KNOW WECAN GET THROUGHTHIS AND WE CANCOME OUT BETTER."IN BUFFALO, TEPPS,7EWN.