Lives cut short: Epidemic of gun violence claims children in US

WASHINGTON－Carmelo Duncan was strapped in his car seat when he was hit by multiple bullets, becoming at 15 months old one of the youngest shooting victims in the US this year－a symbol of powerlessness in the face of gun violence in the United States.

He and his eight-year-old brother were in a car being driven by their father through southeast Washington on Dec 2 when unknown shooters opened fire on the vehicle before fleeing in a stolen SUV.

The toddler died at the hospital. His father and brother survived the ambush. Police say they do not know the motive for the shooting.

Carmelo was the 187th victim of gunshot homicide this year in the US capital, the highest total in 15 years. The city had 196 shooting deaths in 2005.

Many US cities reported "historic levels of violence" in 2020 and young people are paying a heavy price, said a report by the organization Everytown for Gun Safety.

This is due to a climate of violence following a rash of police killings of black Americans, and the COVID-19 pandemic that has closed schools and youth programs.

"As these critical supports have been shuttered, the void has been filled with gun violence," said the Everytown report.

Just a few days before Christmas, gun violence has already caused more than 18,500 deaths in the US in 2020, the Gun Violence Archive said.

The toll included more than 1,300 minors, with 284 age 11 years old or younger.

One such child is Davon McNeal, who was shot in the head on July 4 by a stray bullet fired by young adults celebrating the US Independence Day.

Only 11, he had left a picnic organized by his mother, Crystal McNeal, in a poor neighborhood in southeast Washington.

"They were just having fun shooting their firearms," his paternal grandfather, John Ayala, said.

Early jail release

One of the shooters, Ayala explained, had been released from prison in May as part of an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus in detention facilities.

Ayala has been a well-known figure in Washington's black community since 1989. He founded the local chapter of the group Guardian Angels, easily recognized by their red berets, that works to stop violence and crime in metro areas of the country.

"For years I worked all over the world going out to be a role model, talking about positive things and to prevent tragedies like this from happening," said the New York-born 51-year-old. "And then it hits my own doorstep.

"What's sad is when a child is murdered here, we already know that's not the last one," he added, pointing to the general sense of powerlessness.

The day Davon died, at least four children under eight years old were killed by stray bullets in the cities of Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco and St Louis, Missouri, the Gun Violence Archive said.

Ayala denounced the passivity and "culture" of silence among some in the African-American community, which is the most affected by gun violence.

"That mentality has to change," he said. "Snitching is not when you report a crime that is happening in your community against you or somebody else."

In order to keep Davon's name alive, McNeal created a foundation that helps homeless people and disadvantaged youth, though she admits her charitable work is not enough to stem the violence.

"You can do all the peace walks, all the events, all the toys giveaways, anything. You can't tell somebody to stop something they already planned on doing," she said.

Ayala and Kevin McGill, the coach of Davon's school football team, also denounced rival gangs that do not hesitate to settle scores around children.

"Where we're from, it ain't really unheard of," said McGill. "It's heartbreaking. At the same time, it's like you become numb to it."

Agencies Via Xinhua