Mayor Turner is joined by Houston Police Chief Acevedo, Houston Medical Director Dr. David Persse, Houston Health Department Director Stephen Williams, Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin and other city officials to address the rising crime rate in our city.
I know #COVID19 has contributed to mental health issues, anxiety surrounding isolation, sickness, death, economic, employment and educational challenges
But you cannot blame everything on the pandemic. In Houston we have a crime problem that we must all work together to confront.
Starting last Friday night and over the weekend, police responded to multiple reports of shootings, which resulted in the death or serious injuries of several individuals.
One victim was a 34-year-old woman who was a victim of road rage that allegedly started as an argument over her vehicle blocking the roadway, according to witnesses. A suspect shot her and fled the scene.
Fortunately, none of the murders this weekend involved teenagers, but there were 7 non-fatal shootings and 3 of them involved teenage victims.
The motives in the shootings vary from gang and narcotics related to retaliations and arguments.
As a city, we have responded over the last year with more money to reduce domestic violence, CARES Act funding for a mental health hotline and we put more money into police overtime.
Since January 1, the beginning of the year, there have been 44 murders in Houston. That is more than the 32 homicides during the same period in 2020.
First, I am asking anyone with information to contact police. If you know who is responsible for any of the shootings that took place over the weekend. Contact the police anonymously to help us get the dangerous person or people off the street.
Secondly, I am asking all super neighborhood groups and associations to review safety measures with your residents. Increase lighting, lock your doors, keep valuables out of sight and if you see someone who is getting too aggressive on the road or confronting you, just leave.
I am also asking Houston Police to better coordinate with law enforcement agencies in our area to help extend our reach. That includes the constable’s offices, sheriff’s office, METRO and others.
Let’s take back our city and show the bad actors that they are not welcomed, and they will face the consequences of breaking the law.
