Community leaders urge non-violent conflict resolution after 16-year-old Joseph Samuel’s shooting death, highlighting urgent resource needs.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Community leaders are calling on the public to settle conflict without violence. This comes after the death of 16-year-old Joseph Samuel. He was shot and killed just Tuesday in Northeast Charlotte.
Community leaders are doing everything they can to encourage young people to settle disagreements without guns after Samuel was killed in broad daylight on Tom Hunter Road.
“In situations that are highly traumatic, they tend to use coping skills that may cause them to fight or freeze or a lot of other strategies that may not be the safest for them,†Danielle Redmond, executive director of Historic Paradise Foundation, a Fort Mill based organization teaching young people how to cope with conflict resolution, said. “We have a staff on site who's a clinical therapist. We also have partnerships with New Hope and they provide multi systemic therapy. We have a partnership with Winthrop University social work department.”
Police say a fight led up to the deadly shooting. Neighbors who heard gunshots are calling for peace, instead of shootings.
“Try to talk it out, it doesn't necessarily have to get violent or escalate, try to reason with one another,†neighbor Isiah Corpening said.
Redmond says having the resources to fund programs that teach conflict resolution saves lives, but often times programs are cutting costs and staff is limited, and so are therapists. The Mecklenburg Office of Violence Prevention is losing significant programming because of federal cuts.
“Funding is key to having the resources,†Redmond said.
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