JACKSON, Mich. — The city of Jackson is dealing with a problem with gun violence, according to Jackson police and Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies.
New data shows the number of confirmed shootings has gone up in recent years, according to city officials.
There have been at least six shooting victims since May 2019, two of them died.
The latest happened on Thursday, July 11 when 26-year-old Trevor Jackson was killed in a parking lot in the 600 block of North West Avenue.
No arrests have been made in the case.
Mayor Dobies tells News 10 that almost all the shootings are being committed by about 125-150 people.
"About 70 percent of the violence is caused by less than half the percent of the population. So we have a very small percentage of people that are doing a lot of the violence," Dobies said.
In June, Jackson City Council approved starting an intervention program that's aimed at helping curb gun violence.
"Similar programs have been successful in Detroit and Boston," Dobies said.
Mayor Dobies said that the city did not set aside money for the initiative in the 2020 budget, and instead will work with community organizations to raise $180,000 for the project.
Council is expected to meet in the future to discuss funding options.
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