Gun violence prevention program spreads after solutions coverage

After investigative reporter Nichole Manna wrote about a program in Richmond, California, dedicated to ending cyclical and retaliatory gun violence (here: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article231822123.html), Fort Worth established a similar effort. That program, called VIP FW (Violence Intervention and Prevention Forth Worth) uses ex-convicts instead of police to intervene in and mediate conflicts. Manna's follow-up reporting (here: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article245135960.html) found evidence that VIP FW is helping: In the first few months of its existence, its staff had talked with 175 people, spent 275 hours engaging with known or suspected shooters and mediated 25 conflicts. Its leaders believe they prevented at least 18 shootings.