Community members, along with police and city officials, joined together in a march Saturday to stop the violence in Tampa.
The rally was in response to recent violence in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood.
Marchers paused for a moment of silence on East Sitka Street where 14-year-old Richard Newton was shot and killed during a party last month. His mother, Danielle Williams, marched for him.
"I started crying,” Williams said. “You know, that's where I last saw him at, so it was real heartbreaking for me."
It’s heartbreak that’s become all too familiar for some in the neighborhood. Authorities and city officials hope the show of unity between police and the community will help curb the problem.
"These young men killing each other, you know, you're destroying lives. You're destroying families. You're destroying communities and it's got to stop,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
Police would also like to see more cooperation in investigations like Newton’s. So far, his case is unsolved.
"There's just a thousand police officers and there's 350,000 citizens,” said Tampa police Chief Jane Castor. “They're going to keep violence out of the community with our help, not the other way around. So people need to feel that sense of community and that sense of responsibility, and come forward with information."
"We need to really get together as moms and do something to stop the violence with our kids,” Williams said. “It's like it's not going to end.”
Williams said she doesn’t want to see someone else’s child die from gun violence and hopes the rally is a step in the right direction.
Police said the rally was the first in a series of anti-violence rallies they’re planning in the city.