NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — In many ways, Malachi Smith is a typical teenager, already making plans for after high school.
“Hopefully I’ll get a scholarship and go to college,” he said Wednesday night.
However, in many ways he isn’t a typical teenager, also sharing Wednesday night how he survived a shooting at just 10 years old.
“I was shot in the head. It all happened on my dad’s 50th birthday. I went to go hide while my friends ran,” remembers Smith. “Then all the sudden, darkness.”
The teen joined dozens of other people impacted by gun violence at a community walk in Newport News City Center on Wednesday. A city-run homicide support group meets once a month, but on Wednesday, organizers invited members of the community to join them.
Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew attended. He says though homicide rates are down in the city compared to last year, one shooting is one too many. “There’s nothing that justifies picking up a firearm and taking someone’s life," he said. "Once you pull that trigger, you can’t take it back.”
Chief Drew added, that it’s impossible to pinpoint one reason for the violence, but said simple conflicts and disagreements now often lead to gun violence. “We’re working on de-escalation,” he said. “It’s okay to walk away.”
Smith is now a member of Newport News’ Young Adult Police Commissioners program, which meets with law enforcement on a weekly basis.
He said, “I’ve always been interested in the police force. So I took up the opportunity, signed the waiver, and I’ve been stuck with it ever since.”
Though he can’t change his past, Smith says he’s using it to make an impact on the future.
“I really just take time to reflect. It wasn’t just me; it was the community that got affected.”
According to NNPD, there have been eight homicides in Newport News this year, compared to 12 at this time last year. Four of those eight are still under investigation. Non-fatal shootings are down 15% year over year, with 32 incidents at this time in 2023 compared to this year’s 27.