Akron's murder rate is the highest it's been in nearly 40 years since it peaked in 1978 with 48 homicides.
No other year has come close to those numbers. Until now.
In 2017, 42 people were killed in Akron and 16 of those homicides still remain unsolved.
Prior to that, the city had 30 homicide cases in 2016.
Councilwoman Tara Mosely-Samples says she puts just as much pressure on the community as she does law enforcement to help curb the violence.
"First off, if you see something, say something and don't wait until it affects your household to want people to be involved," Mosley-Samples said. "
Get involved now so if something does arise within your community, within your family, people won't be afraid to speak out." Mosley-Samples said. "We have to get the community comfortable with feeling safe enough to speak out against the violence going on in the neighborhood."
To help reduce gun violence in the city, Mosely-Samples organized a gun buyback last year to get weapons off the streets.
Even though the turnout wasn't as large as she hoped, Mosley-Samples said she was pleased because even getting a few guns off the street could help save lives.
