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From Staff Reports
ASHEVILLE, N.C — Following a downtown mass shooting, local leaders focused on violence prevention, community resource investments and federal partnerships, rather than arrests alone,
during a July 24 community briefing hosted by the City of Asheville and the Asheville Police Department at the ADP Headquarters downtown.
Prevention and support ideas that were proposed included the following
• Violence prevention funding: City Councilwoman Maggie Ullman and local groups emphasized investing in established local violence prevention programs, such as those run by the SPARC Foundation.
• Community health workers: Expanding trusted community worker networks to directly connect at-risk individuals with stable housing, healthcare, employment and food security.
• Youth resources: Addressing root causes by questioning and expanding positive youth engagement alternatives when schools are closed.
Regardjng enforcement and safety measures and federal prosecution partnerships, Interim APD Chief Jackie Stepp highlighted ongoing cooperation with federal agencies to crack down on illegal and high-powered firearms.
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