ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Concerns over youth gun violence continue to rise in St. Petersburg after three people were killed — including a 14-year-old girl in two separate shootings over the weekend.
On Monday, St. Pete Police arrested a 16-year-old they say was one of three teens now in custody, accused of shooting and killing 21-year-old Marcus Rivers during an attempted robbery on Saturday. The three teens, including one still hospitalized from injury, are facing murder charges.
The arrest comes as the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into a murder-suicide that happened Saturday. Investigators say a 17-year-old was dog-sitting when he invited people over to a home in Lealman, where they drank and used drugs throughout the day. Deputies say that night, an argument involving a sexual encounter led to the teen shooting a 14-year-old girl and then himself with the homeowner’s gun.
A spokesperson says they are still actively investigating the open case.
Police do say the common denominator in each of the incidents is teens using guns they should have never had access to.
“It’s indicative of a bigger problem that we have with juvenile crime,” St. Pete Police Assistant Chief Mike Kovacsev said, speaking on the shooting involving the three teens.
Kovacsev said the department works to try and be proactive in thwarting youth gun violence, “We look for patterns, so we can address a pattern before it continues on. That's the best way to be able to address it. But sometimes with these incidents, especially when it's drug-related, or especially when it's done domestic-related, it becomes a little more difficult,” he added.
And it's an important reminder for people in the community to make sure their firearms are securely stored, and not left in cars that can be broken into, often the way teens get their hands on them, Kovacsev says.
It’s a problem that starts in the communities and neighborhoods around the county, where, right now, organizations are working with kids and their families to guide them on a better path.
“We're able to teach them about gun violence, like who it affects how drugs and alcohol play a role. Why do we remain silent when we know people who have taken other people's lives? And when can we take a stance? We found out that our kids were ready to talk and to make an impact,” Maress Scott, the president of Quis For Life, Inc., said.
Scott and his wife founded the organization after their son Marquis, a young football star, was shot and killed in 2019 while riding his bike in St. Petersburg.
He says incidents like what happened over the weekend are a reminder of just how many people are impacted when a kid or someone else loses their life to gun violence.
“Most people from the outside, they see the gun incident, they see the life-taking, and they see possibly kids taken to jail. What I see is families impacted. I see mothers crying like my wife was on the floor. Clutching my son's bookbag, collapsed, crying. Weeks, a year later, we’re still going through this,” Scott added.
Partnering with the city, county and other neighborhood organizations, he talks with kids and their parents about how to avoid and recognize ways to stop violence before it occurs. So far hundreds of kids in the area and the adults closest to them have been educated and have signed pledges to put down guns.
“The main purpose is to plant the seed of personal accountability for the safety of our communities into their hearts and minds, so that they'll adopt the non-violent lifestyle, and they'll be the ones who be trained in our communities,” Scott added.
To see more about their organization and mission, click here.