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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — The year 2022 is already off to a violent start in Lexington, with 5 homicides so far this year and more than a dozen shootings.

The most recent one happened Monday on Hollow Creek Drive, which left 44-year-old Cornelius Allen dead.

At least 4 victims in the recent shootings are all under the age of 21-years-old. And when it comes to suspects, the age range is even younger.

Two 18-year-olds, a 19-year-old, and a 15-year-old are just a few of the shooting victims on the Lexington Police Department’s Crime Log.

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That number doesn’t include Landon Hayes, who was killed in a murder-suicide this weekend.

The age of the victims is enough to shock anyone, but what’s even more alarming is that several of the shooters are juveniles.

For example, at least 3 juveniles were detained after a Lexington police officer was shot.

And a 17-year-old was arrested Monday for the murder of a 44-year-old man.

Mayor Linda Gorton and Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers recognize the unfortunate trends and have expanded a program in the city, One Lexington, as a result to help address youth violence.

The program’s director, Devine Carama, gave some insight into why more youth are getting caught up in violent crimes. 

Carama said, “I think the pandemic set a lot of our kids back. A lot of the resources our kids were getting in school some of them went a year or two without those resources, without those mentorships and programs. Some of the disparities, I think gang culture is on the increase.”

Carama adds in order to steer the youth back on the right track, more programs need to be put in place at the community level that offers both outreach and mentoring.