Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt on Saturday commented on an overnight shooting that claimed one life and injured 14 people.Saying no large city will ever prevent all crime, Holt said continued investment in the city’s youth is imperative.Read the full statement below:”The shootout early this morning on SW 59th that killed at least one and injured at least 12 is currently being investigated by OCPD and they will share further developments with all of us. Recent shootings in our city fit a familiar pattern – young men (boys, really) making terrible decisions with grave consequences. Law enforcement absolutely plays a role in these events, and we must continue to fund and support law enforcement. Having said that, we have to recognize that there is more to it. Boys whose brains are literally still forming don’t always respond rationally to the things that would deter you and I. Obviously, widespread access to guns contributes to the severity of these events. I’ve always been a supporter of the Second Amendment, and that includes support for common sense gun regulations, for which we should all advocate. But until Oklahoma moves away from closed partisan primaries, the overwhelming and bipartisan public support for common sense gun regulations will not translate into state policy. Every resident who owns a firearm should also take that ownership seriously. For example, in 2024 in Oklahoma City, 246 guns have been stolen from unlocked cars. Sometimes a tragic story begins with something as simple as an unlocked car. In Oklahoma City, the most direct and near-term impact we can make – by far – is through investments in our youth. Barely half a mile from this morning’s shooting is the brand new Almonte Library. We cut the ribbon on it just a few months ago. Four miles to the east is Cesar Chavez Elementary, which cut the ribbon on a new soccer field yesterday. Next year, we will break ground on the first MAPS 4 youth center. The most important thing we can do at the local level to prevent these tragic events is to keep investing in our young people. When we cut the ribbon on a new soccer field, we’re not trying to create the next Messi. We’re giving young people an outlet, and data shows us that young people who stay in school and are engaged in extracurricular activities are far less likely to find themselves shooting each other at midnight. At the city level, we’ll keep making these investments in infrastructure and programming. And we’re not alone. I know that everyone from the school districts to the D.A.’s office understands that the challenge is multifaceted. It is also incumbent on philanthropy to prioritize programs that support our young people and interrupt violence. Fortunately, I see a lot of efforts out there and I think there is already a lot of alignment. But investments in young people take time, and the work never ends. No large city will ever prevent all crime, all tragedy or all stupidity. But we can make a difference. This is the work to which we remain committed.”Top Headlines 1 dead after at least 12 people shot at southwest OKC Halloween party, police say Wendy Camp and her family vanished in rural Oklahoma. Another family member had questions. Man looking for answers after sister killed in hit-and-run collision in southwest Oklahoma Oklahoma and Texas reach $10 million settlement in boundary dispute Members of national crime ring busted by Edmond, OKC police
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt on Saturday commented on an overnight shooting that claimed one life and injured 14 people.
Saying no large city will ever prevent all crime, Holt said continued investment in the city’s youth is imperative.
Read the full statement below:
“The shootout early this morning on SW 59th that killed at least one and injured at least 12 is currently being investigated by OCPD and they will share further developments with all of us.
Recent shootings in our city fit a familiar pattern – young men (boys, really) making terrible decisions with grave consequences.
Law enforcement absolutely plays a role in these events, and we must continue to fund and support law enforcement. Having said that, we have to recognize that there is more to it. Boys whose brains are literally still forming don’t always respond rationally to the things that would deter you and I.
Obviously, widespread access to guns contributes to the severity of these events. I’ve always been a supporter of the Second Amendment, and that includes support for common sense gun regulations, for which we should all advocate. But until Oklahoma moves away from closed partisan primaries, the overwhelming and bipartisan public support for common sense gun regulations will not translate into state policy.
Every resident who owns a firearm should also take that ownership seriously. For example, in 2024 in Oklahoma City, 246 guns have been stolen from unlocked cars. Sometimes a tragic story begins with something as simple as an unlocked car.
In Oklahoma City, the most direct and near-term impact we can make – by far – is through investments in our youth. Barely half a mile from this morning’s shooting is the brand new Almonte Library. We cut the ribbon on it just a few months ago. Four miles to the east is Cesar Chavez Elementary, which cut the ribbon on a new soccer field yesterday. Next year, we will break ground on the first MAPS 4 youth center.
The most important thing we can do at the local level to prevent these tragic events is to keep investing in our young people. When we cut the ribbon on a new soccer field, we’re not trying to create the next Messi. We’re giving young people an outlet, and data shows us that young people who stay in school and are engaged in extracurricular activities are far less likely to find themselves shooting each other at midnight.
At the city level, we’ll keep making these investments in infrastructure and programming. And we’re not alone. I know that everyone from the school districts to the D.A.’s office understands that the challenge is multifaceted. It is also incumbent on philanthropy to prioritize programs that support our young people and interrupt violence. Fortunately, I see a lot of efforts out there and I think there is already a lot of alignment. But investments in young people take time, and the work never ends.
No large city will ever prevent all crime, all tragedy or all stupidity. But we can make a difference. This is the work to which we remain committed.”
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