The City of Peoria has seen nine homicides since the beginning of the year. Three of those occurred in the last week and a half. Some residents affected by the shootings have expressed dissatisfaction with the police response. Peoria Police Captain Loren Marion says residents should not take matters into their own hands:
“The only thing that does is snowball and you end up, now their family member will be in trouble and possibly end up looking at prison time. Let the police do the investigation.”
Marion says police are stepping up patrols in areas near the shootings. The incidents raise questions about the effectiveness of the city’s anti-violence program known as ‘Don’t Shoot’. Marion defends the program, saying it targets gang and group violence. He says the latest shooting deaths appear to be intentional and isolated incidents.