PONTIAC, Mich. (WWJ) — Residents, community leaders and activates in Pontiac have called to stop crime in the city after an alarming rise in violence claimed the life of another child returning home from school last Friday.
In an emergency town hall meeting on Wednesday evening, those in attendance at the Robert Bowens Center all agreed that measures need to be taken to address shootings and homicides which had tripled in the city.
"Enough is enough," pleaded Pastor Douglas P. Jones from the Oakland County Ministerial Fellowship and Baptist church. "A drive-by in any neighborhood is a drive-by in every neighborhood — no neighborhood is free, none!"
FBI statistics showed there were 35 homicides, including eight children, in Pontiac in 2021.
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Only ten homicides were reported in 2020.
Leaders said it was past the time for talk and the community needs to band together, hold each other accountable and take action.
"We need to send a clear message," Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel said. "We need to set a clear norm that we are not going to tolerate violence, that we're not going to tolerate any violence but especially violence as brutal and senseless as the murder of a 7-year-old girl in our community."
The latest shooting death rocked the city after Ariah Jackson, 7, was shot in the head and died of her injuries while returning home from school with her family.
"Am I angry? I'm damn right angry this should've never happened and this child should be with us today with a long life in front of her," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said to WWJ's Michael Cohen on Saturday. "Instead we have people that are willing to indiscriminately kill other people in furtherance of their criminal violent activity and we as a community have to stand up."
State Rep. Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac) said Ariah's death left her "lost for words" and promised to fight against gun violence to keep the city and its children safe.
“In Pontiac, we have seen a dangerous rise in crime, and too many lives have been lost this year to gun violence," Carter said in a statement. "This is not a problem that can’t be fixed, and I don’t understand why children still have to die before we realize that fact. My heart goes out to Ariah’s family. We must fix the problem of gun violence in our city together, and I promise not to stop fighting until we do.”
Pastor Jones expressed sadness and anger at the town hall meeting, saying he was tired of burying children and the violence within the city needs to end and it must end now; his speech was meet with applause and a chorus of agreement from the crowd.
Attendees at the emergency meeting proposed addressing the issue with solutions that include a community center for kids alongside de-escalation and anti-violence classes.
In the case of Ariah Jackson, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office announced they had arrested the shooting suspect Wednesday evening in Troy; the alleged driver of the vehicle, 17-year-old JaJuan Calvin McDonald of Pontiac, is being sought by authorities.
Anyone with information about this crime has asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1-800-SPEAK UP (1-800-773-2587).
Tipsters will remain 100% anonymous.
Online tips can be submitted here.
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