ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — From Jan. 1 through Dec. 6 of this year, the Roanoke Police Department reported 64 aggravated assaults and homicides where a victim was hit by gunfire. During the same time frame last year, there were only 52 such incidents.

This marks a more than 20 percent jump in aggravated assaults and homicides involving guns from 2020 to 2021.

In order to figure out the best way to respond to the growing gun violence in Roanoke, the city created a Gun Violence Prevention Commission back in March.

The commission consists of nine Roanoke residents, including City Councilman Joe Cobb, who also serves as the chairman of the commission.

Cobb joined WFXR News’ anchor Amanda Kenney on “Good Day Virginia” to discuss the commission’s purpose, accomplishments, and more ahead of the final meeting of 2021.

That meeting for the Gun Violence Prevention Commission is set to take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14 in the City Council Conference Room, located on the fourth floor of the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building on Church Avenue SW in Roanoke.

If you have any questions about the meeting, you are asked to email Cobb at joseph.cobb@roanokeva.gov or Angie O’Brien at angela.obrien@roanokeva.gov. You can also check out the agenda for the meeting by following this link.