In an attempt to break the cycle of crime before gun violence becomes the new trend in Nashville, Metro leaders have created a new program aimed at gun offenders.
"We're seeing younger and younger kids have access to hand guns," said Jenny Charles, Assistant District Attorney.
It's that access to guns that has painted Nashville streets, in blue police lights. In less than a week, 17 people have been shot in the "It City" since last Wednesday. Five of those shootings were fatal.
The District Attorney's Office is trying to break that cycle of violence.
"Violence Interrupted an attempt to stop the cycle of the lifestyle of violence narcotics and firearms that have engulfed Nashville recently," said Charles.
Jenny Charles is an Assistant District Attorney. But at the age of 16 she became a victim of gun violence at her part-time job in a Brentwood Baskin Robin.
"A young man came in and he was actually on parole for aggravated robbery, and held myself and my coworker at gun point. Then he put us in the ice cream freezer," said Charles.
That experience made her want to get involved in preventing those situations as an adult.
But for people like Brad Miser, he got involved with Violence Interrupted through a different route.
"I was incarcerated for drug crimes, drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm," said Miser.
Miser was just 19 years old when he sentenced to 7 years in prison, and now as a successful business man who's turned his life around. Now he's encouraging others to seek a different path, that won't lead them behind bars.
"If you can just get through a fraction of those people it's going to make a massive difference," said Miser.
Interrupt violence is for any facing misdemeanor or firearm charges. The program has only been around for a year now, and the next class will start on July 15.
You can contact the D.A.'s office if you would like to sign up.
