Ridge Moore Obituary, Death – Ridge Moore, a 16-year-old boy, was identified by his family as the victim of a fatal shooting that took place Monday night in Harrisburg, near 14th and Hunter Streets. According to police, Moore was believed to be the intended target of the shooter, and there are suspicions that the crime may be gang-related.
Tone Cook, a prominent gun violence prevention advocate and the founder of ‘Michaels Memory PUSH,’ expressed his sorrow and frustration over the tragic incident. He highlighted the ongoing pattern of young lives being lost to gun violence, remarking on the emotional toll of seeing friends bury their children. “It’s sad because it seems to happen over and over again,” Cook said.
Moore’s death marks the third time in less than three months that a teenager has been killed by gunfire in Harrisburg. In August, a 13-year-old was shot and killed near S. 19th and Derry Streets. Just a month later, a 17-year-old lost his life to gun violence near Regina Street. These incidents underscore the growing crisis of gun-related deaths among Harrisburg’s youth.
Lt. Kyle Gautsch of the Harrisburg Police Department echoed the difficulty of combating gun violence in the community. “We keep going out and doing everything we possibly can to get guns off the street,” Gautsch explained. “But whenever we get a gun off the street, it seems like there’s three more to replace it.” The cycle of gun violence and the availability of weapons continue to challenge law enforcement efforts in the city.
In response to the alarming rise in gun violence, community members like Cook are working hard to support at-risk teens through various initiatives. Cook’s organization, ‘Michaels Memory PUSH,’ is dedicated to addressing gun violence through outreach programs and community events. One such event is planned for October 26 at the Colonial Park Mall, offering raffles, games, food, prizes, and more to engage local teens and encourage them to find positive alternatives to violence.
In addition to these grassroots efforts, the city of Harrisburg has implemented more structured approaches to address gun violence. The “Gun Violence Intervention” project, which is also in place in the city of York, is part of a broader strategy aimed at reducing shootings. At the 2024 annual ‘State of the City’ address, Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams discussed the program, noting that it will take at least five years to see measurable results. Mayor Williams emphasized that this initiative represents a “generational” change and is aimed at long-term, systemic improvements in public safety and youth engagement.
While the death of Ridge Moore has brought further attention to the gun violence epidemic in Harrisburg, it also serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the city’s residents, police, and community leaders. Efforts to curtail the violence are underway, but the road to a safer future remains fraught with difficulties. Community members, advocates, and law enforcement continue to search for solutions as they work to prevent further tragedies and create lasting change in the city.