DEKALB COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Stop the violence: It's a three-word phrase often repeated but seemingly never accomplished, yet some DeKalb County young people said they won't give up fighting for peace.
"If I see something that is out of control and something that is not ordinary, I would step in," said Jasmine Ellis, a 22-year-old DeKalb County resident.
Youth violence is a major problem nationwide, including in DeKalb County. In June, two people were shot to death while attending the funeral of a murder victim. All the victims were under the age of 30. Two were just 19 years old.
On Tuesday, DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis said the shooting led him to create a youth violence task force that said he hopes will address and ultimately cure youth violence.
"I think there is a growing concern about gun and youth violence and the fact that it could happen anytime anywhere. We all are potentially vulnerable and we've got to do something about it," Burrell Ellis said.
The DeKalb County Council on Youth Violence Prevention will be made up of faith and community leaders, health advocates and county officials. But Burrell Ellis said young people are the key to solving problem.
"We are not just telling them how we are going to fix a problem for you, but we are engaging them and we are going to solve this thing together," Burrell Ellis said.
"It is up to us at the end of the day. We are the world, we are the next generation so it has to stop with us," said Jasmine Ellis, who is not related to Burrell Ellis.
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