Mayor, city leaders respond to Sunday shooting that killed South Bend teen

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg said on Monday the community is lifting up the family of Ajurin Blake, 16, who was shot to death on Sunday evening. 

Mayor Buttigieg sent out a series of tweets on Monday afternoon, expressing frustration with the loss of youth to gun violence in the community. 

Last year we lost nine residents to gun violence. Last night we lost the first this year: a 16-year-old boy. We continue to do everything we know how to end gun violence, even with a hand tied behind our back. This is an all-hands on deck issue. If you care, you can help.

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 14, 2019

“This community is lifting you up,” he said to Blake’s family. “We are surrounding you with love and we want to work together to make sure no other family goes through this again.” 

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit confirmed Monday morning Blake had been shot and killed outside a home on North Brookfield Street in South Bend. Mayor Buttigieg said the worst part of his job is getting a call saying someone had died because of gun violence. 

The shooting took place in South Bend’s second district which is represented by South Bend Common Councilwoman Regina Williams-Preston. She said tragedies like these are felt across the city, but said more needs to be done to prevent gun violence. 

“We have to engage each other,” said Williams-Preston. “We have to engage with youth and we have to think of real ways tangible things that we can do to actually invest in our children.”