PITTSBURGH \u2014 Pittsburgh police continue to investigate two deadly shootings in Downtown Pittsburgh that happened in the span of about a month. In both cases, police said, it was a teenager who pulled the trigger.<\/p>\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Teen gun violence in Downtown Pittsburgh turns deadly for second time in recent weeks<\/a><\/p>\n On Wednesday, Channel 11 asked Mayor Corey O\u2019Connor and members of his administration about the recent teen violence and what is being done to curb it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to look at this holistically \u2013 this can\u2019t just be a law enforcement problem,\u201d said Chief Jason Lando of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.<\/p>\n Lando believes community collaboration is needed to prevent violence in Downtown Pittsburgh and beyond \u2013 specifically, crimes involving teenagers. Over the weekend, on June 14, police said a 15-year-old shot and killed a 17-year-old during a fight near Katz Plaza, not far from the Cultural District.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Teen dead after being shot in Downtown Pittsburgh; another teen facing charges<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cObviously one [shooting] is one too many \u2013 and we know that,\u201d O\u2019Connor said.<\/p>\n Another deadly shooting last month in Market Square led to the arrest of 16-year-old B\u2019jauhn Dankins. Police said on May 12, he shot a 19-year-old in the chest, who later died at the hospital.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man shot multiple times in Market Square dies after emergency surgery<\/a><\/p>\n Just a few weeks before, the city implemented a chaperone policy<\/a> Thursday through Sunday nights in Market Square to help crack down on fights. The May 12 shooting happened on a Tuesday, but police said recent numbers surrounding the policy reflected a positive impact.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the concern was \u2013 is that placing those restrictions on Market Square were going to lead to more police interactions, they\u2019ve actually led to considerably fewer police interactions, which is a good thing. We want to have less negative police interactions with our youth while we\u2019re working to come up with a creative solution,\u201d said Lt. Bob Monticelli of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.<\/p>\n When it comes to finding a long-term solution, O\u2019Connor said his administration is working closely with all Pittsburgh Public Safety departments to do their best to be proactive in preventing future incidents. But Lando said the city can\u2019t do it alone.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my frustrations is when we arrest a 14 or 15-year-old with a gun, and our officers know that kid by name, and it\u2019s the fourth or fifth time that kid has been arrested. I can\u2019t keep asking my officers to go out there and arrest the same kids over and over again. At some point, our community partners have to step up,\u201d Lando said.<\/p>\n The Mayor\u2019s Office says the Market Square chaperone policy is still in effect when a special event requiring a permit is not taking place on a given weekend.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n