NORFOLK, Va. — State leaders gave an update on Operation Ceasefire: an initiative to reduce violent crime across the Commonwealth.
Attorney General Jason Miyares and Del. Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) were in Norfolk on Wednesday to give an update on the operation’s progress.
WATCH: Virginia leaders hold press conference on reducing violent crime
Miyares announced Operation Ceasefire about a year and a half ago in October 2022. The operation was rolled out in 13 Virginia cities with a high volume of gun crime, including five in Hampton Roads: Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake.
At the press conference, Miyares shared that 12 of the 13 Ceasefire cities saw a crime reduction. He added that more than 10,000 illegal guns were recovered from the 13 Ceasefire cities.
Miyares said the operation focuses on three goals: addressing gun and gang violence through prosecution and prevention, promoting group violence intervention, and prosecution, especially of repeat offenders.
At the presser, Miyares emphasized the importance of offering programs and activities for kids after school. He said people he’s collaborated with on Operation Ceasefire found that sports, church events, and other after-school activities are great outlets for young people.
"You have to invest in these young men's lives, to show them not to go down a separate path but a path of hope and dignity," said Miyares.
Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn also spoke about the importance of prevention.
"If you want to understand gang members, you need to understand what they're running from, not what they're running to," said Gwynn.
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Miyares says 'Operation Ceasefire' is planning anti-gun messages to kid's phones
One of the recipients of an Operation Ceasefire Grant is Big Homies in Portsmouth. The director, Eugene Swinson, says they were able to open a location last summer and have another recreation center in the works. Swinson agrees that talking to kids early about violence prevention and gang activity is key.
"The kids are looking to the gangs for acceptance, any type of family environment, " said Swinson. He added, "Being that the kids from some of these neighborhoods where these guys are at, the influences are kind of high in the neighborhood, but they come here 5 days a week, so we’re able to kind of get in front of some of that behavior that we see."
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