Edward James Harris IV, 14, was killed May 31st by a single gunshot in broad daylight at a public park. He was the 18th homicide victim this year, which represents a sharp increase over 2014. What makes this already tragic situation even worse is the response the victim received from his Mayor. While the boy had been victimized twice before being murdered, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn showed just how out of touch he is by making demeaning comments and blaming Harris for his own death. His statements in a Tampa Bay Times article as reported by Caitlen Johnston is as follows:

"These young people, if they want to end up a statistic, either incarcerated or dead, the choice is theirs," Buckhorn said. "Either get out of the life and find good role models, or you end up in the street in a pool of blood at age 14. That's the reality."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/teen-boy-killed-in-tampa/2231758

As Janelle Irwin reported in SaintPetersBlog:

"Buckhorn probably didn’t know that the younger Harris had fallen either victim or witness to three separate criminal cases. He was robbed. He was shot at. And he witnessed a stabbing."

"It’s a life Harris probably didn’t want too much to do with. But like many juveniles who have lived the sort of hardened lives people like Buckhorn have only read about or seen from a distance, Harris probably didn’t know how to get out. He may not even have really known there was a way out."

http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/232306

There is a big disconnect between city leaders and the tough realities residents of minority and low-income families are forced to face on a daily basis. The preconceived notions from our city leaders were all too evident in Mayor Buckhorn's public statements blaming the victim for his own death.

First and foremost, Bob Buckhorn should publicly apologize to Edward's family.

While, since the tragedy, there has been outreach to the community to bring awareness to the additional youth programs at the local rec center, many residents are unable to pay the $15 fee required to sign up for programs where their children can be safe and be in a structured environment.

Secondly, if Mayor Buckhorn truly cares about the youth residents in the minority community, he can start by waiving the $15 fee for membership for the neighborhood youth around Woodland Terrace Park to use Gwendolyn Miller Community Center where they can sign up for many constructive programs over the summer.

It's the least he could do.