INDIANAPOLIS — After a spike in teen homicides last year, IMPD and the city of Indianapolis have made preventing youth violence a priority for 2024.
And now, a teenager is working on the problem, too, creating a new group focused on keeping his fellow teens out of danger.
J.P. McMillian is on a mission to make peace.
He's only 13, only in eighth grade, but he's already following in his father's footsteps to stop gun violence. McMillian's dad, Ron Gee, is a fierce community advocate and the founder of Cease Fire Indy.
McMillian has had a great example of civic leadership. But he also knows the consequences of weapons in the hands of teens.
It's already hit him personally.
"I lost a lot of people to gun violence. Just seeing that and going through the funerals and balloon releases just made me want to do something," McMillian said. "It's getting way worse. I lost somebody, and it was enough for me. It was enough for me."
"So one day, he came to me like, 'Hey, let's start our own organization. I want to start my own,'" Gee said. "I was like, 'OK, what does that consist of?' He said, 'I want to be the voice for the youth.' I said, 'Be the voice!'"
So this month, McMillian is starting a group called Young Minds Indianapolis. It's a new way for kids to connect with rallies, giveaways, a big social media presence and positive community gatherings.
An introduction is set for Saturday afternoon at Gee's restaurant on East 38th Street.
McMillian's goal is to keep teens away from guns and on the right path.
"We'll try our best to get kids off the streets. We've got upcoming events going on. It's going to be 13 to 18," McMillian said. "Me being their age, and it's what they're doing, I'm telling them, 'No, that's not the right path to go,' I think it'll be a change on it."
A big part of YMI, he said, will be conversations about decision-making, staying out of danger, not seeking revenge.
At age 13, McMillian's voice may resonate more than most adults. And right now in Indianapolis, that's the point.
Even though the overall homicide rate was down in 2023, youth homicides have spiked. The city had more than 20 people under 18 killed just last year.
"That is our reality, and that is something that we gotta face the fact that our kids are going to school with killers," Gee said. "It's 13-year-olds that are doing these things. It's 14-year-olds. 15, 16, you know, and all my kids are teenagers, so like, what can we do to be different?"
The difference may just be a young leader, connecting kid to kid, trying to change the community for the better, just like his dad.
"Oh, it's going to work," Gee said. "It's 2024. God put the vision on both of us, and I feel glad to have a partner in this, and we're going to hit the ground hard."
If you'd like to get involved with YMI or learn more about their programming, you can attend the introduction on Saturday, Jan. 13 from 2-5 p.m. at 1313 Eatery at 5299 E. 38th St.