The number of homicides in Tulsa this year is up from this time last year. Police say there have been 62 homicides in 2009 compared to 55 at this time last year.
Jason Trent Jr. lost his son to violence. He is doing everything he can to stop the vicious cycle. Trent says, "It was the worst day of my life." May 12th of this year his son, Jake, was shot and killed. He was not the intended target. Trent says, "Because of an internal conflict with somebody else... my son got killed." Jake opened the door at a friend's house and was shot 27 times. His father is grieving along with the families of the other 61 victims killed this year.
Tulsa Homicide Detective Vic Regalado says, "What it boils down to is people are being murdered at a record pace." Detective Regalado says there is no one reason behind the murders. It is a combination of gang, drug, random, and domestic situations. There are 11 unsolved murders this year. The rest have been solved. Those figures are far above the national average when it comes to solving murder cases.
Jake's killer has not been found but his father is hopeful and has started the Generation of Destiny community center in hopes of giving kids an alternative to violence. Trent says, "I go and visit his grave and I say Jake I don't know what to do help me out." He wants young people to understand the hurt violence causes. Trent adds, "It doesn't have to end so violent. Learn some conflict resolution. Learn that we are killing each other."
Trent is organizing an event called "Project Give" on December 12th. It will be held at Generation of Destiny at the northeast corner of 46th St. North and Peoria. He's collecting food and donations to give to the community during the event. You can drop off donations at the community center, Big Daddy's Bar-B-Cue, Zio's at 71st and Garnett, and Aspen Athletic Club.
For more information go to www.projectgive.info
