Local woman works to organize solutions following violent weekend

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Neighbors on South Bend's northwest side are on edge, following a violent weekend.

18-year-old Charles Roberts, III, was shot and killed on Friday night at the intersection of Adams St. and Vassar Ave.

In that same shooting, a 17-year-old was hit in the groin area.

On Saturday, 29-year-old Tyler Lewis was shot on N. Brookfield St., which is also in the same area, just blocks away.

Police have arrested 34-year-old Erick Clay in connection to that shooting.

The same night, a Facebook group emerged to help find a solution to violence in the neighborhood.

Melissa Stokely used to live on Adams St. and wants to give people a place to find real solutions to the ongoing problems.

"Once you feel down, you live in that neighborhood, you feel like there's no hope. They just need an outlet they need someone to talk to, people to listen to them and actually work on it with them," said Stokely.

Others obviously agree. The group "South Bend Neighborhood Problems, Suggestions, Solutions" is now at more than 250 members.

As police work to find the suspect in Friday's shooting, The community is working to cook up their own plan.

The Facebook group is planning a brainstorming meeting for Wednesday at the Heritage Center. Their goal is to put together a neighborhood barbecue and find answers.