Community teen violence must stop

TOLEDO - In the past two weeks two Toledo teenagers have been murdered, the most recent early Sunday evening.

As the families deal with the pain, Bishop Stephen Ward has a strong message for the city's youth - teen violence in the Glass City must end.

"We either have to admit that there is a violence problem with our youth in Toledo, there's a gun problem and take action or not," said Bishop Ward of Remix Ministries.

"A lot of the things that they see on TV it's not real, but they're in some type of fantasy where they believe it's real. So they feel to be accepted they have to act hard or to be accepted they have to carry a gun."

Two gun crimes recently took the lives of two Toledo teens. On Dec. 14, Toledo Police say 23-year-old James Leroux shot and killed 16-year-old Luis Ruiz at South Toledo house. Fourteen days later, detectives believe 17-year-old Deshawn McCardell fired the fatal bullets that struck Rogers High freshman football player, 15-year-old Antonyo Phillips, while he was walking with friends on the city's north side.

Bishop Ward is taking action to try and prevent violence like December's recent outbreak. He's started a new social service agency called Daddy's Home , to help young people who are growing up without a father figure.

"It's unfortunate but a lot of those people who come from single parent homes, if they don't have that structure, that role model, it leads to trouble," Ward said.

Teen violence isn't exclusive to one particular area or people, and that's why Ward says everyone in the community should stand up against what's happening on their streets.

Ward believes a lack of programs for teens in Toledo is contributing to some of the violence. His program, Daddy's Home , is available to children ages 10-17, but he won't turn anyone away if they are older or younger.