Team 12 Investigates found that while overall shooting incidents are down, there's been an uptick in shooting victims 18 and under in New York City.
News 12 also found that each year, from 2020 to 2022, shooting victims 18 and under increased. Last year, there were at least 128 victims in New York City, with at least 44 in the Bronx and 35 in Brooklyn.
Our team followed a Brooklyn group that makes it their mission to interrupt violence. Save Our Streets targeted part of Crown Heights while the News 12 crew was with them. They say stopping violence starts by knowing our communities, what they need and how to help. They say listening to youth is a major priority.
"In my opinion, I feel like a lot of these kids don't have a voice, youth advocacy is important because a lot of the problems that we feel that is an issue for them or the problems we feel like we're solving may not be what's heavy affecting them," said one member of Save Our Streets.
The group visits schools, works to get mental health resources in schools, hosts career workshops, cover letters workshops and more.