Eleven children were hit by gunfire in April of 2019. That’s more than any of the last 16 months, according to a report issued by NOLA.com.
In the first third of 2019, there 21 percent, or 28 out of 135 gunshot victims were children. In the first third of 2018, that number was 10 percent, or 17 out of 172 gunshot victims. However, while the fact that the number of juvenile victims is trending upward is discouraging, it is true that overall, gun violence is down across New Orleans.
In 2018, New Orleans had the fewest number of murders that it had seen in 25 years. That trend has continued into 2019, with murders in the city down 46 percent in the first quarter, and non-fatal shootings down 17 percent.
NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson has said that reducing gun violence remains a priority for the department. “Reducing overall gun violence is a top priority for myself, our Mayor, and this department,” Ferguson said.
In the first quarter of 2019, NOPD officers had seized 568 illegal firearms, up from 488 in 2018.
Jenn Bentley is a writer and editor originally from Cadiz, Kentucky. Her writing has been featured in publications such as The Examiner, The High Tech Society, FansShare, Yahoo News, and others. When she’s not writing or editing, Jenn spends her time raising money for Extra Life and advocating for autism awareness.
