Nonprofit CEO calls on parents to help reduce youth violence
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Wednesday marks a week since a deadly mass shooting happened at a building for Memphis Allies, an anti-gun violence nonprofit.
22-year-old Matthew Williams was killed and five other men were injured.
So far, there have not been any arrests.
WREG spoke with the founder and CEO of a local nonprofit with a similar mission as Memphis Allies.
He said this shooting is a part of a bigger issue.
LaDell Beamon, who founded the Heal the Hood Foundation of Memphis said adults and parents are needed to help reduce youth violence.
On Apr. 9, a drive-by shooting at Memphis Allies, located on South Mendenhall Road, claimed the life of Matthew Williams.
ORIGINAL STORY: 1 dead, 5 men injured in Southeast Memphis shooting
In a statement, the organization said Williams was turning his life around and recently joined its SWITCH program, also known as, 'Support with Intention to Create Hope.'
Beamon said he was disturbed when he heard about the deadly shooting.
'It's very unfortunate,' Beamon said. 'It's actually kind of like a slap in the face to me because you know, there's so many people that want an opportunity to get out and then there are people that are standing in the way of it.'
Similar to Memphis Allies, Beamon's organization's mission is to create positive outlets for the city's youth.
However, he told Your News Leader, that mission does come with challenges.
'Any city that builds with children in mind will win,' Beamon said. 'And so, there's a real large gap in between having to meet the needs of the young people that we're serving and having the resources and the real places to be able to reach those kids.'
Building for anti-gun violence nonprofit becomes site of mass shooting
Beamon said the deadly shooting at Memphis Allies proves that more work needs to be done.
'It's gonna be important this summer to make sure that we're guarding the ear gates of kids, making sure that the right messages are in front of the kids at all times,' Beamon said. 'And then having the right opportunities to fill that leftover space where kids are not being occupied and satisfied in that arena.'
Despite the gun violence that occurred last week, Memphis Allies said it's dedicated to its mission, which includes preventing gun violence and saving the next generation.
Memphis Police are offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in Matthew Williams' deadly shooting.
The victim's family has also set up a GoFundMe for his funeral expenses. If you would like to donate, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Immigrant father of three Marines is violently detained, injured by federal agents, son says
Video of a landscaper being taken down, pinned and repeatedly punched by masked federal agents in Orange County has gone viral online, and Alejandro Barranco finds it painful to watch. The Marine veteran says his father, Narciso Barranco, was working outside of a Santa Ana IHOP on Saturday when several masked men approached him. Frightened, he began to run away, his son said. Moments later, he was on the ground, held down by the men, who struck him. The younger Barranco said Sunday that his father was pepper sprayed and beaten, and that his shoulder was dislocated. After speaking with him Sunday at about 6 p.m., Barranco said his father had not received medical treatment, food or water after more than 24 hours in a detention facility in Los Angeles. 'I don't think it was just, I don't think it was fair,' Barranco said of the use of force against his father. 'I don't think they need four 200[-pound] plus guys to hold down a 5-6 or 5-7, 150-pound guy.' The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately return The Times' request for comment. The video of the encounter between Barranco and immigration officials has circulated on social media, sparking outrage and the creation of a GoFundMe to help with legal representation that had generated more than $48,000 as of Sunday night. The 48-year-old is a hardworking landscaper and a kind person, his son said. 'If anyone ever needed any help, he was always there,' he said. 'He's very well known in our community.' On his first call to his son after the detainment, Barranco was less concerned with his injuries and more concerned with his job. He told him where his truck and equipment were and asked him to speak with his client and finish the job, the younger Barranco said. Alejandro Barranco, 25, is a veteran of the U.S. Marines and his two younger brothers, Emanuel and José Luis Barranco, are active-duty members. With 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms deployed in Los Angeles in the wake of protests over recent immigration raids, Barranco said he understood that many of his fellow Marines are just following orders. 'I just know that ... they also have mixed feelings about everything going on,' Barranco said. 'I know they love their country, they want to serve their country, but I'm also sure that they love their parents and they love their family members who are undocumented. 'I'm pretty sure we're all pushing for the same thing,' he said, 'which is a change in our system.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Teen charged with murder in Riviera shooting of man, 18
RIVIERA BEACH — Riviera Beach police arrested a boy Friday they believe fatally shot an 18-year-old Lake Worth Beach man who recently graduated from high school near the top of his class and whom his family said had dreams of being a firefighter. City police are charging the juvenile, whom officers are not naming, with second-degree murder in the killing of Elias Timothy Morrero, the Riviera Beach Police Department said Saturday in a news release. He is also being charged with being a minor possessing a firearm and using a firearm for a felony. The alleged killer was booked Friday, June 20, police said, and is now being held in the Juvenile Assessment Center. City police responded Thursday, June 19, to a report of a shooting in the 2800 block of Avenue S. There they found Morrero, who had stopped his car near 28th Street and Avenue S and exited the vehicle clutching his neck from a gunshot injury. Paramedics took Morrero to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he died. Morrero's family has set up an online fundraiser on GoFundMe for his funeral, titled "Forever 18: Remembering Elias Our Brightest Light." His family is hoping to raise $20,000. They were more than halfway to that total Saturday afternoon thanks to nearly 200 donors. Morrero had graduated from high school in May with honors, the fundraiser web page says. He was also captain of his Fire Academy class, the training program required in Florida for aspiring firefighters. And he was a big brother to five younger siblings — Elianna, Elissia, Everly, Elijah and Ezariah, the family said. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Tillman Funeral Home & Crematory. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Teen charged with murder in shooting of LWB man, 18
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Person killed in I-10 crash near Tillmans Corner: MPD
Editor's note: Please read for the latest information on this incident. MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) — One person has died after a crash on I-10 Wednesday morning, according to the Mobile Police Department. GoFundMe started for family of woman who died in boating accident at Bayou Sara A portion of I-10 eastbound is closed due to the crash that occurred before 8 a.m. on June 18. The crash happened on I-10 near Exit 15B in Tillmans Corner. This story is developing. News 5 will update this article as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
