PKG: HOMICIDES

Lexington...police are investigating three homicides in the last three days.

Police say the three men who died...each one shot and killed.

Abc 36's monica harkins joins us in the studio with more on what turned into a deadly week.

### three families are grieving...and meanwhile...the lexington community once again hyper aware of gun violence.

I talked with a youth advocate about this week's surge...he says...it's like a second pandemic.

### "marcus patrick: that feeling of oh here we go again," here we go again...more families in lexington without their loved ones after three separate shootings left three people dead in the last three days.

"mp: why are we dealing with this again?"

It's this deadly week that has youth advocate and community leader marcus patrick asking himself-- why do people keep dying from gun violence?

People like...35- year-old lowell washington who police say was shot at an apartment on dalton court wednesday.

And people like 20- year-old herbie booker who the coroner says died at the hospital thursday after he was shot late wednesday night on colchester drive.

Or it's people like 35-year-old cyrus davis who police say died friday morning in a shooting on winchester road.

"mp: it's a community effort.

We need to learn how to do a better job of holding one another accountable, especially that we love and care about."

In patrick's role as director of urban impact in lexington...he helps educate those on building better relationships...to overcome obstacles...like turning to guns.

Mp:"one, we have to learn our limits.

We have to learn what our triggers are.

We need to know what we can, and what we can't handle."

And he says change doesn't happen over night but that's okay too.

"we have to learn the language of those that are that are hurting.

Figure out what we can do to communicate what that love looks like."

In the meantime...lexington police say it's hoping the community will step up and speak up about this week's shootings to help uncover more about what happened.

### the family of herbie booker....is holding a candlelight vigil to honor his life... and also to gather in prayer for justice against gun violence.

That is scheduled for tonight at m-l-k park at 7:30, i'm monica harkins