ALBANY, N.Y. -- People were on edge at a meeting of Albany's Gun Violence Task Force. It was the first time leaders of the group have come together since Kathina Thomas' shooting.
People who came to meeting had a clear message for the task force –they want changes and they want them now.
"When you have a community where people who will just shoot a gun, into a group of children, there is a serious, serious problem with that community," said Albany resident Thomas Scarff.
"I don't want to see these officers chasing these hoodlums from corner to corner to corner. If they are on the streets when they are not supposed to be, they need to be removed," said Albany resident Allah Sun’Allah.
“I think it is beyond us sitting meeting. I think there has to be some sort of action and it has to be done now,” Laurie Myers said.
Albany's Gun Violence Task Force met for the first time since Kathina Thomas was shot and killed. And as Curtis Schick reports, people told the group the time is now for change.
Laurie Myers’ son was murdered in Albany in 1994. Myers says she takes the Thomas killing personally and says the problem has only gotten worse.
“We have got to get on the streets and band together. Us, the police, the community. And take back the streets,” Myers said.
Task Force Chair Reverend John Miller says the task force has already made recommendations to the Common Council and will make more. Leaders from the task force say it's time for the person who did it to come forward and also for people who know who did it to speak up.
“What's frustrating to me is that a community does not become outraged enough to identify the person with the gun,” Reverend Miller said.
“Admit that you made a mistake and that a wrong and an injustice done so we that we might bring closure to our community,” said Task Force Co-Chair, Reverend Dr. Edward Smart.
Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith came to meeting and says he is working on a state wide plan similar to what the group is working on.
As for Albany's task force, its final recommendations are due in November. For some, that’s not soon enough.