Grand Rapids police have been called to eight homicides since December 1, 2012.
WYOMING, Mich. (WZZM) -- After eight homicides since December 1, Grand Rapids community leaders are launching a series of meetings to stop the violence.
But will the campaign work? Some residents who have lost family and friends to murder say it's a start.
"It's better late than never, because this is something that was a long time coming; [it's] long overdue," said Michael, who works at The Cutting Edge barber shop in Wyoming. "With these things happening one after another after another, a lot of attention has been drawn to it, where as before, it's one here, one there. "