ATLANTA — The Mechanicsville community calls for peace after dozens of shots injured three teens and two women.
The shooting happened Saturday, a few hours after a peaceful community event by Windsor Street Plaza ended.
"I was here. It was chaotic," Mechanicsville native Tacorris Bryant said.
The 21-year-old is one of many involved in the youth that are mentored by Ricky 'Dip' Usher. The community leader is the one who puts together the event to celebrate the community.
"I want to see more programs for the youth. I feel like it's not enough people trying to get the youth to come together and be great. The youth really ain't got nobody except Dip, pushing them to be better," Bryant said.
That's why days later, leaders and neighbors came together in the same spot where the shooting happened. The goal is to inject love into everyone after tragedy.
"I do this because I know it's what I was called to do. If I don't, then who will," Usher said while talking to 11Alive's Angelina Salcedo. "It got to be an underlying issue for somebody to just pick up a gun and spray bullets into a crowd. Don't care if there are mothers or children there when they do. It's an issue that's going on that needs to get addressed."
The community's safe space was disrupted by violence. Atlanta Police say nearly 90 casings were found after shots rang out. Neighbors say the people responsible don't live there.
"Keep all the drama at home, because in actuality, this one, this event was already over. The situation happened long after the event was over with, so it was like, I mean, people really just got to get more control of the anger," Bryant said.
Firearms are still being used despite the area being monitored on the ground and by surveillance. APD data shows two murders in the area so far compared to the four people killed this time last year.
"I think it's important that we have city wide solutions," Councilmember Jason Dozier said.
He represents District 4 and said they're working on investing in the area to make sure the community isn't neglected, but it takes everyone coming together to stop gun violence.
"We play a huge role in making Atlanta what it is and we want people to see that for who we really are not just because some knuckled heads from the other side of town decided to come and create chaos," Dozier said.
Mental health and the need to provide resources to those choosing to pick up the gun was also a key focus at the rally. Counselors were there and available to anyone who needed help. Officers also took the time to listen and talk to neighbors.