GR chief, leaders to speak on violence

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Grand Rapids police and community leaders will speak Friday about the recent wave of violence in the city.

A press conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Grand Rapids Police Department to discuss strategies and solutions to end the violence, according to a Thursday evening release. In attendance will be GRPD Chief Kevin Belk, community leaders, and local clergy.

“It is very important that we all come together as a community to focus on the problem of community violence," Belk said in the release. "Public safety requires the involvement of the entire community. We are fortunate to have so many people that care and are willing to get involved."

In the past month, there have been eight homicides in the city, most of which remain unsolved.

The most recent was Tuesday, when 18-year-old Greg Woods, Jr. was shot and killed after answering the door of his southeast-side home. His mother told 24 Hour News 8 Woods was involved in a gang.

"Stop the senseless killings," Dr. Jermone Glenn, pastor at The Revolution Movement in Grand Rapids, said in the release. "Stop the hurt. Stop the violence. Stop ignoring it."

24 Hour News 8 intends to stream the event live on woodtv.com starting around 9:30 a.m.