DALLAS – The city of Dallas has already surpassed its 2019 homicide rate, with more than 220 people deliberately killed so far in 2020. In the month of October, 32 people died due to a homicide, according to Dallas Police records.
In hopes of stopping the bloodshed, former gang members and ex-convicts are blitzing targeted areas of Dallas to keep violence from escalating. The group calls itself "The Violence Interrupters," and is working alongside Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson's "Safer Communities" task force.
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The group’s leader, Marcus Estell, said his goal is to connect with people when out on the streets.
"The whole purpose is to invade and touch the people," said Estell. "The bottom line is to save lives. You have to care about that, that has to be personal to you."
For the last several weeks, efforts to do neighborhood block walks have ramped up in response to the rise in crime. Many neighbors the group spoke to said they would like to see greater police presence, but with a more caring type of attitude.
"I want it to be genuine," said one neighbor who didn't want her name disclosed.
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Estell, also known as “Big Milk,” and his army of volunteers have a way with their words, too. Every door they knock on brings the opportunity to listen and gather information in a manner that's unique to their circumstances.
"Every individual you see standing here are either ex-convicts or have been through things themselves," said Estell. "I'm an ex-convict, you understand. We got people who have been through some things here. We were once street cats."