For Tampa residents, waking up to the news that someone has been shot and killed has become all too familiar.

“It's totally crazy," said Vincent Coley.

Vincent Coley said he knew the latest victim shot and killed on the corner of North 30th and Osborne. He said the rising gun violence, especially involving teens is becoming too much.

“I want the youth to come together and live as one. Understand and respect one another that is the first thing because it's crazy," said Coley.

And Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn agrees.

“Every weekend there's another shooting, another family's life has changed, another young man who may not be with us anymore. It's got to stop," said Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

One solution the city is working on is giving teens another option than the streets.

The City of Tampa is extending the hours of some of their recreational centers until midnight to give teens somewhere to go and to keep them off of the streets at night.

“I think we can save lives as a result of it,” said Buckhorn. “This has got to stop."

In recent weeks, teens as young as 14 have been shot during the gun violence and people like Vincent hope the community will soon find peace and stop losing lives.

“Right now it takes my heart out to see people behave the way they behave," said Coley.

Gun buyback nets 521 firearms

As part of the effort to reduce gun violence, Tampa held a gun buyback Saturday.

Police collected 521 firearms. People turned the guns in, no questions asked, in exchange for $50.

The guns turned in included:

  • 213 revolvers
  • 125 pistols
  • 104 rifles
  • 79 shotguns