Over the past three weekends, the city of Lexington has been grappling with a series of gun violence incidents that have left the community in shock and mourning. The recent surge in violence has prompted mental health experts to weigh in on how the community and those directly impacted can begin to heal and move forward.
The first incident occurred two weeks ago at the East End Days festival, where 16-year-old Di’Zhon Robertson was tragically killed, and four others were injured. Last weekend, 19-year-old Jarell Rojas lost his life in another shooting. The violence continued into the early hours of Saturday morning, with four separate shootings across the city. Two people were killed, including 32-year-old Rashi Washington, and two others were injured.
The impact on the community
Residents of Lexington have expressed their fear and concern following these incidents. Maria Fernandez, a local resident, shared her experience of hearing gunshots around 4 a.m. on Saturday while feeding her newborn. Just across the street, a 26-year-old man was shot and killed. Fernandez expressed her worry about the safety of her family and neighbors, highlighting the pervasive fear that has taken hold of the community.
Addressing community trauma
Psychologist Dr. Katherine L. Stone emphasized the traumatic impact of these incidents on both those directly affected and the community at large. She noted that exposure to traumatic events can cause individuals to shut down initially, making it crucial to have access to resources for healing and support. Dr. Stone advised parents to engage in open conversations with their children about the incidents, encouraging them to share their feelings and experiences.
For teens and young kids impacted by these shootings, Dr. Stone suggested asking open-ended questions such as, ‘How are you feeling?’ or ‘Tell me a time today when you felt normal.’ She also highlighted the importance of reaching out to therapists if needed and connecting with others who have faced similar experiences.
Resources for support
Dr. Stone acknowledged that barriers to mental health resources can exist but emphasized that there are still options for help. She suggested turning to church communities, schools, and online resources for support. Additionally, she encouraged individuals to seek referrals from guidance counselors and explore websites with tips and information from organizations like the American Psychological Association and American Medical Association.
In response to the recent violence, ONE Lexington, a citywide initiative aimed at reducing gun violence, released a statement on Saturday morning. Devine Carama, the director of ONE Lexington, expressed his condolences to the families affected by the violence and reiterated the initiative’s commitment to devising intervention, mediation, and crisis response strategies.
Carama emphasized the importance of unity and love in guiding the community through this difficult time. He encouraged residents to contact the Lexington Crisis Response Coordinator for emotional assistance and to reach out to the Lexington Police Department with any information related to the shootings.
The Lexington Police Department is actively investigating the recent shootings and has asked anyone with information to come forward. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by phone or online.
