Much of their reasoning has to do with the hours at which the worst of the violence takes place. Interest in Short North continues despite recent violenceĭespite the rash of gun violence, many have told The Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, that they remain undeterred from visiting the Short North. Following the second recent shooting, Columbus City Council on Monday approved $500,000 for additional safety measures for Downtown and the Short North. Other actions have been taken as well to improve safety in the area. "We are not messing around because this threatens every single person across the city of Columbus," Klein said. Klein said his office has heard from residents in the Short North who are increasingly concerned about safety issues in parking lots, where young people often gather to drink, do drugs and cause other problems. Suspects will also be required to pay court costs and fines, and their vehicles will be impounded and held as evidence while the cases are pending. "Operation Burnout," a Columbus police effort to shut down the illegal street takeover events that have cropped up in various parts of the city, also will be implemented in the Short North, Bryant said.Ĭolumbus City Attorney Zach Klein said Thursday that anyone engaged in illegal street takeovers or street racing, whether in the Short North or elsewhere, will receive no plea bargain if they are arrested and charged with a crime. "Our officers are prepared to strictly enforce illegal, unruly behaviors." 'Operation Burnout' moves to Short North "Violence in the Short North or anywhere, it will stop - we will track you through data, targeted enforcement and we will put resources where violence is most likely to occur," Bryant said during the news conference. Officers with the Columbus Division of Police are expected to increase enforcement of the city's curfew law this weekend as well, prohibiting those between the ages of 13 and 17 from being out between midnight and 4:30 a.m., Bryant said. Extra lighting will be placed in certain areas, she added. and 4 a.m., officers will have an increased presence in cruisers, on bicycles and on foot in the Short North. In the wake of the gun violence, Columbus police Chief Elaine Bryant said beginning this weekend, between the hours of 8 p.m. The resulting damage remained evident, with shattered glass and bullet holes still visible in many Short North shop fronts. That chaotic shooting spree, which left the Short North cordoned off for hours by crime scene tape, sent bullets through glass windows on store fronts, careening off buildings and ricocheting elsewhere. And nearly two weeks ago, a shootout left at least 10 people wounded, resulting in police firing their own weapons and seizing 11 guns. The measures follow two consecutive weekends of gun violence in the neighborhood, known for its art galleries and night life.Ī 21-year-old man was shot and killed after a fight escalated to gun violence on May 14. Police response changes after gun violence in Short North So far in 2023, there have been over 16,000 gun violence deaths, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. And a recent Pew Research Center analysis showed that there have been more gun deaths in 2021 than in any other year on record. The agency said between 20, firearm homicide rate increased about 35%. "Firearm deaths continue to be a significant and growing public health problem in the United States," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts have also called gun violence a public health epidemic. The city's efforts comes amid national concern over gun violence, which Americans are increasingly considering as a threat to U.S. "Back-to-back weekends of deadly violence in this area have served as an alarming wake-up call to the entire community." "It is time for us to take a clear, strong and united stand against gun violence in the streets of Columbus," Ginther said Thursday. Ginther said he is also signing an executive order mandating that food carts in the Short North close at midnight as well, which he said City Council is expected to codify into law at its Monday meeting. Ginther said the request - which is for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - will likely remain in place for "as long as it takes" until the violence begins to abate in the neighborhood north of downtown. Ginther announced during a news conference on Thursday is the request that Short North businesses voluntarily close at midnight for the upcoming weekend and beyond. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two consecutive weekends of gun violence in one of the most popular and bustling entertainment districts in Ohio has prompted city leaders to enact a number of new strategies to crack down on crime.Ĭhief among the new safety measures that Columbus Mayor Andrew J.
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