Gun Violence Awareness Month: A Survivor's Story by Community Passageway

6 days ago
1 min read

Camryn Johnson knows all about gun violence. Shot at 15, she fell into a coma and nearly died. With support from our case workers, she graduated from Alan T. Sugiyama High School last year and went on to earn her CNA certification.

Then tragedy struck again. On January 30, her close friend Traveiah Houfmuse was one of two teens shot and killed at a bus stop near Rainier Beach High School.

For young people in King County, the threat of gun violence never goes away. That's why our case workers keep their ear to the street, especially in the summer, when research links the seasonal surge in shootings to teens having more idle time. June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, and we're committed to doing our part by hosting enriching summer programs that keep young people connected, supported, and safe.

Camryn, now 19, put it plainly:

"The reason you don't see kids fighting as often, and not as many shootouts anymore, is because the Community Passageways case workers are watching 24/7. They will literally stop and get out of their car and walk up on you if they see you getting out of line. And we need that. Without them on the streets, gun violence is gonna go back up."