OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — It was a deadly weekend across Oklahoma City with a stabbing and two fatal shootings since Friday.
Oklahoma City Police Department says there's been a slight increase in homicides this year with 78 reported cased compared to 75 in 2023 and there's still over a week left until the new year.
"It makes me feel like we have a lot of work as a city to still do," said Jabee Williams, executive director, LiveFree OKC.
Programs like LiveFree OKC are working to tackle the root causes of violence.
"We live in a city where there are needs being unmet and until we can meet those needs, until we can meet those housing needs, resources, services, things that help people live safer, until we meet those needs we really aren't doing the full job," said Williams.
Williams emphasizes that addressing violence isn't just about taking weapons out of hands.
"What it is that our young people in our community are lacking and where we can fill in those gaps and be willing to put something in their hands when we take a weapon out of it," said Williams.
LiveFree OKC focuses on intervention only in northeast OKC since the launch of their program last year, homicides decreased on that side of town.
Looking ahead to 2025, Williams hopes to expand services, but city backing and funding are needed.
Although homicide rates have increased, Williams says it's a small group of people involved in this type of violence.
"It gets dramatized and sensationalized a lot because it might involve kids or you might have a couple over the weekend, but the reality is everybody is not out here shooting everybody," said Williams.
Oklahoma City Police says the solve rate is also up compared to last year. It is now 90 percent, while in 2023 it was 88 percent.
