(WXYZ) — Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald has created a commission to develop an evidence-based curriculum that will help prevent gun violence and mass shootings in Michigan.
McDonald says the group, which features more than 20 community figures, experts, and victims of gun violence, will use a data-driven approach to combat the issue.
The Commission will have three main focus areas.
They will first scrutinize the threat assessment model in Oakland County.
They will then investigate and provide recommendations on both hard and soft components of preventing gun violence. Then they will work to develop a model for training kids and adults on how to identify individuals in crisis.
“Since November 30th, almost every aspect of my job I have 4 names on my mind," McDonald said during the press conference, referencing the shooting at Oxford High School. "They are Hana, Madison, Tate and Justin.”
According to McDonald, more than 40,000 people are losing their lives to gun violence each year and in 2020, firearm-related injuries surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.
McDonald also referenced a shooting in March, where 7 year old Ariah Jackson was killed in a drive by shooting in Pontiac.
"I just can't for one more day turn on the tv or the news and watch more people killed and murdered, children, and say 'well that’s just part of our life.' It is not, and it's preventable,” McDonald said.
One of the commission members is Deleah Sharp, lost her brother Dean to gun violence in Pontiac 26 years ago.
"He was hanging out after a party, him and his friend, and they got shot,” Sharp said. “This is a great way, or a tactful way, for them to curtail violence in our community."
Dean's murder remains unsolved and his death still weighs heavy on Sharp. She responded by starting her own organization called Identify Your Dreams, which helps children who lost a loved one to violence.
“With trauma of this nature a lot of children feel isolated. They don't know where to go and so we want to hold space for that,” Sharp said. “We provide grief support, victim advocacy and case management for children who lost a loved one to violence.”
According to the CDC 518 people were killed by firearms, whether intentionally or accidentally, in Oakland County between 2016 and 2020. The commission includes local leaders and national experts, including Sandy Hook parent Nicole Hockley.
"It's going to be very interesting for this commission to address all of those issues to find the best way to keep our kids and our communities safe,” Hockley said at the press briefing.
The commission will work together over the next few months and write up a report with their findings. McDonald says she anticipates the report being complete in about 8 months.
