Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Black teens and young adults are facing alarming rates of mortality, seemingly ignored by elected leaders. Despite funds allocated at the state level to address this issue, local municipalities often divert these funds elsewhere, neglecting the urgent needs of young Black individuals. Awareness of the funding appears to have lapsed while Black youth and young adults continue to perish from gun violence. The whereabouts and actions of our local leaders in addressing this crisis remain uncertain. A local teen is behind bars after being held on second-degree murder charges. The teen is alleged to have been involved in a shooting incident where another teen was wounded. The shooting occurred in Bastrop LA, according to a report from the Bastrop Police Department (BPD) on January 30, 2024. Officers responded to reports of gunshots near Bastrop High School, around the intersection of Highland Ave. and Gladney Dr. Upon arrival, they found a 15-year-old juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound, who was then transported to Morehouse General Hospital for treatment.According to police reports, on February 1, 2024, a juvenile was taken into custody for his alleged involvement in the shooting. The alleged juvenile suspect was not identified due to his age and was taken to the Green Oaks Detention Center. Court documents reveal that the suspect is charged with four counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Illegal Use of a Firearm, and Possession of a Gun in a School Free Zone. There is a B.A.L.M. in Monroe is a spiritual solution to a social problem. A B.A.L.M. in Monroe is a collaborative plan that every citizen, elected and appointed official, Clergyperson and organization can participate in to help improve the image of Monroe while inspiring at-risk males to take more responsibility for their actions and respect the lives of others - a balanced approach to lower the violent crime and murder rate in Monroe, LA. Praise God for law enforcement. Need another reason to vote?