One Lexington talks homicide rates in the city; credits community involvement for decline

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — “Government is here for its citizenry,” says Larry Johnson, the community outreach coordinator at One Lexington.

As the city of Lexington is seeing a decline in violence rates, One Lexington says the work they’ve done with those involved in the community have helped address the needs of the youth in the city.

“We are making great strides, and we have intentions to make even greater strides,” added Johnson.

Currently, the city has seen five homicides so far in 2024.
Last year at this time, the city was at seven,  compared to 13 in 2022.
With the numbers trending downward, those with One Lexington say it is a step in the right direction.

“I’d like to, I’d like to say that it’s happenstance. But I know that it’s not, there’s a lot of hard work taking place. There’s increased programming increased opportunities. The police have new technology. We have a housing department, we have funded mentoring programs,” said Johnson on what has been working.

Johnson with One Lexington says, the work can be credited to those who choose to play an active role in the community.

“We are empowering our community partners, our community partners are doing great work. We say that all the time, but we are helping to provide the funding, we are helping to provide trainings that empower them, we are helping them to become more formally organized, and we are helping them to work together,” he says.

Johnson says the work the organization does is all on behalf of the families impacted by violence.

“We try to be there for those families to help them one transition to a safer environment, us to empower them through providing services, to an opportunities for them to get the help that they need,” he said.

Adding that this summer they will continue aiming to steer the most vulnerable away from a path of violence.

“This is going to be an exciting year one we have our Summer Youth Program is back, ‘It Takes A Village’ is back. We have increased opportunities there, we are increasing our efforts to address trauma informed care. On the horizon, is the opportunity is increased educational opportunities, post secondary opportunities formally and informally,” said Johnson on what this summer will entail.

Johnson adding, “we’re 50% at least down in shootings and homicides for both categories among young people in the age group that we direct and we like to tell our community, thank you for what you’re doing to make that happen.”

If you’d like to learn more about One Lexington, you can click here.

If you’d like to see the latest homicide rates in Lexington, click here.