LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Dozens of Clark County youth heard the realities of gun violence from those who lived to tell their stories in hopes of steering them away from making bad decisions.
Marlon Rice was shot more than 25 years ago, but he said the physical and emotional scars never left him.
“Pop pop pop, that’s what I heard,” Rice said. “Guy ran up on me, opened fire, point-blank range, 9mm. He was this close to me. I got hit this close to my liver, twice in my intestines.”
Rice also lost his fiancée in the shooting.
“My fiancé took one bullet in the back of her head. I watched her die,” he said.
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Summit targets teens in criminal justice system
The Level Up Summit brought together teens currently in the criminal justice system to hear from speakers like Rice.
One teen at the summit said he had experienced gun violence firsthand.
“I’ve had a gun pointed at my head before, so it’s a lot different situation and scenario. You never know. You live by a gun, you die by a gun,” the teen said.
For these attendees, the message appeared to resonate.
“Getting the perspective and a different outlet is kind of helpful because I feel for me I would be less likely to hurt someone because I wouldn’t want to be the one or my family getting hurt due to gun violence,” the teen said.
Pacita Coleman with the Gang Intervention Team, also known as the Gap Intervention Team in Clark County, said the community is unaware of how many teens carry guns.
“This program is all about bringing them together and having a visual. Hey, you carry a gun, but all these 60 kids here, they do too,” Coleman said. “A lot of these kids, to be honest, aren’t bad kids. Not bad, teens. They are just misguided.”
Trauma specialists, gun locks part of program
Speakers from UMC Trauma attended to show how they treat gunshot wounds and to hand out gun locks.
“We do everything we can do to save somebody’s life,” a UMC surgeon said.
From gun violence to drug use, the day featured real conversations and a glimpse of the consequences that could come.
Besides the summit, the organization is hosting recreational activities throughout the summer.
The late-night programs will run June 9 through July 31, Tuesdays through Fridays, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesdays will be at Walnut Community Center, Wednesdays at Whitney Community Center, Thursdays at Cambridge Recreation Center, and Fridays at Torrey Pines Center. Activities will include fitness, arts, basketball, and other workshops.
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