Activists Plan Gun Violence Meeting After Pittsfield Shootings
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Officials and community activists are responding to a recent string of gun violence incidents with a call to action for public health interventions.
On Monday, the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence will hold a virtual meeting to discuss the recent uptick in gun violence in Pittsfield. The meeting will call for public health interventions, such as violence interrupters, hospital violence intervention, a neighborhood trauma response team, and more.
It will be held over Zoom on Aug. 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
A notice for the event says it is "Not enough to punish the last shooter — we need to prevent the next shooting."
There have been four gun violence incidents in Pittsfield since mid-June, leaving one person dead and a total of seven injured.
The day after Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue announced a task force to take on a spate of gun violence in the city, another person was injured after shots were fired on Circular Avenue early Tuesday evening.
On Sunday evening, three people were taken to the hospital after a shooting near the intersection of Linden Street and Francis Avenue.
Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn wrote on Wednesday that "Recent acts of violence in Pittsfield are understandably concerning to residents, and we should never minimize the impact they have on our community," but "At the same time, it is important to recognize that Pittsfield remains a community where people live, work, raise their families, and enjoy their neighborhoods every day."
He said the city should not allow a handful of violent incidents to define it or make residents feel that they are unsafe everywhere they go. He is certain that more information will be made available when possible.
"The best response is to remain vigilant, support victims, hold those responsible accountable, and give the PPD our support and allow them to conduct thorough investigations," Wrinn wrote.
On June 18, a person died after being shot in the area of Tyler Street and Pleasure Avenue, and another person was injured. Following an extensive investigation, police had an arrest warrant out for Terry Martizna, 35, on a charge of murder.
On Aug. 4, there was a report of approximately 25 rounds fired around the intersection of Onota and Walnut Street, leading to two non-life-threatening injuries.
The DA on Monday said they know the incidents of violence involve both adults and juveniles, and the investigation into all three incidents remains active. Law enforcement was confident that the incidents are targeted and not random.
Mayor Peter Marchetti on the same day said the city is diligently working with law enforcement officials to identify those responsible, as "these acts of violence are not acceptable in this community, and I remain committed to holding those responsible accountable."
The MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence was conceived shortly after the shooting at Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012 as a way to bring together stakeholders from across the Commonwealth to work to address all forms of gun violence.
Tags: gun violence, shooting,
