Crime and gun violence among young people in the metro Atlanta area are decreasing, and law enforcement officials say it’s not the boys in blue on patrol but rather city-run youth programs that are shifting the trend for kids.
Recent headlines about shootings in metro Atlanta involving young victims have raised alarm about gun violence in the city, but national data shows youth crime and gun violence are on a downward trajectory.
According to Gun Violence Archives, which tracks fatal shootings nationwide, 250 kids between the ages of zero to 11 were killed in 2024, a 17% decrease from 2023. The number of teens ages 12 to 17 who were killed in 2024 (1,171) decreased by 17% compared to 2023…