It was an emotional moment for a grieving mother. Shawnell Matthews spoke at an anti-violence rally Wednesday, less than a week after her teenage son was shot to death.
Tariq Matthews, 19, was shot in the head June 30th on the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Hamilton Street. Police said no arrests have yet been made.
"He had a lot of friends who looked up to him,” Shawnell Matthews said. “You know he wasn't the perfect kid, he had his days and stuff you know, he had certain people he shouldn't have been around but for the most of it he had a big heart."
It’s because of Matthews, that local organizations came together for a rally in an attempt to make streets safer.
Mike Perry is the program supervisor for “True to Life,” an advocacy group fighting gun violence. He said he's lost several family members and friends in shootings on the Island, and thinks teaching peaceful conflict management at a young age is key.
"We understand that you can't win this battle alone, but we've got to reach out to our youth,” he said. “We have to instill love on them, love them, we cannot throw our youth away."
"I think all parents need to be there for their child and be more patient,” Shawnell Matthews said.
According to the NYPD, shootings on Staten Island have jumped 37.5 per cent this year compared to this time last year. There have been 22 shooting victims since January 1st of this year, a statistic that now includes Tariq Matthews.
Councilwoman Debi Rose said the growing problem is a public health issue that needs government support.
"The fact that there are young men who can't get jobs is a big factor,” she explained. “And the fact that they're not completing their education and jobs are not available, so we're trying to address it holistically."
Ralliers said their fight is far from over, and now their aim is to stop the violence before it begins.