COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children are setting a goal for Columbus in the new year to make a major dent in the city’s homicide rate.
On Saturday, the mothers got together with community leaders, elected officials, faith leaders and police to launch Operation Under Triple Digits, meaning they would like to see fewer than 100 homicides in 2024.
In 2023, the city of Columbus recorded 149 homicides.
“It is important that we as a city take this seriously, especially if you have children or grandchildren, anyone that could be affected, anyone that is in the streets, anyone that goes to school. Anyone can be affected by this and it is important that we come together as a city because that is the only way we are going to make this happen,” said Mechelle Leon.
Leon joined the Mothers of Murdered Children in 2022 to be part of the solution to gun violence.
Her son, Bernard Allen Hawkins, was murdered in 2009 when he was 18 years old.
“I felt like I had to do something to honor his name, keep his name alive,” she said.
The mothers are now teaming up with community leaders, faith leaders, elected officials and law enforcement to meet their 2024 goal.
“It is ambitious but it is realistic,” said Deputy Chief Smith Weir with the Columbus Division of Police. “The thing is, it is gonna take a commitment from everyone from all spectrums, residents of the city, residents of central Ohio, to be committed to that and engaging in the community and making sure there are viable options instead of resorting to violence.”
Police and the mothers said key strategies to bringing the homicide rate down include getting guns off the street and making sure the city’s youth has access to positive activities and role models.
To join the Operation Triple Digits Pledge, click here.