NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Hambino Godbody belongs to the group Violence Interrupters. Whenever a shooting happens in Nashville the group meets within 48 hours to see how they can offer their services to the affected community. The group works to curb violence and reduce shootings and crimes, especially among youth.
"We knee deep in the streets, we do not work for no police officers. We try to stop it before it happens," Godbody said.
Godbody grew up in Nashville, specifically the zip code 37208. He said the area has the highest incarceration rate in the country.
"Every violation that happens is not worthy of death. There's things that can be talked about and to be made understood about before we go and take somebody's life," he said.
A 26-year-old man died after a shooting happened near the corner of 17th Avenue and Cockrill Street around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to police, the man was found on the porch of a home with a gunshot wound to his torso. Officers do not believe he was shot at the home, instead they believe he went there to get help.
Godbody said he wants others to join Violence Interrupters. He has seen a decrease in violence in his neighborhood since the start of the grassroots group.
Anyone interested in becoming a community member or helping with outreach efforts to canvas the neighborhood can contact the group at volunteer@onearmyunited.org.
"We need community mediators in order to restore and come about the peace because we know the peace needs to be worked it also needs to be created. We need community mediators that are willing to be on the street that are willing to be outreach workers and are willing to be trained circle facilitators and we start that training in August," member Jamel Gooch said.
Godbody said it's time to spread love more than hate.
Tuesday's deadly shooting makes Nashville's 33rd criminal homicide. Metro Nashville Police Department said homicides are down 20 percent compared to this time last year.
