♪ HOST: TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

HOST: MARK WAS THE FIRST COVID-19 PATIENT IN RHODE ISLAND.

HE SPENT WEEKS STRUGGLING TO BREATHE, BUT IT WAS -- HE WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES, OR SO HE THOUGHT.

MARK: IT BY OXYGEN LEVEL WAS 84, WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

HE WAS LIKE YOUR O2 LEVELS RIGHT NOW, YOU SHOULD BE IN THE ER, BECAUSE YOU COULD BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS UPTICK IN VIOLENCE, OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE GETTING SHOT.

HOST: PATROL OFFICER FRANK SAYS PROVIDENCE POLICE RECOVERED A RECORD 200 GUNS LAST YEAR.

FRANK: IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO MAKE A STOP AND RECOVER A GUN.

IT IS A PROBLEM.

HOST: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

PAMELA: IT IS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK TO BE A PANDEMIC.

OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT IS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH LINGERING HEALTH ISSUES, LONG AFTER THE INITIAL INFECTION.

THE CDC ESTIMATES ABOUT 43% OF AMERICANS HAVE HAD COVID-19.

WHILE MOST PEOPLE MAKE A FULL RECOVERY, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS SUFFERING WITH LONG-LASTING SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS.

IT IS CALLED POST COVID-19 CONDITION.

MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS LONG COVID.

DOCTORS DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT AND WITH SYMPTOMS RANGING WIDELY, THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO TREAT IT.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE THE CONDITION, WE PAID A VISIT TO THE FIRST PERSON IN RHODE ISLAND WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.

>> WE DISCOVERED WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE FIRST CASE OF CORONAVIRUS HERE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IT THE STATE SAYS IT HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS DAY.

WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAN WITH CORONAVIRUS IN RHODE ISLAND.

HOST: IT WAS MARCH 1, 2020 ONE GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO ANNOUNCED THE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 IN THE STATE.

ALTHOUGH NO ONE KNEW AT THE TIME, THAT PATIENT WAS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR MARK.

HE HAD RECENTLY RETURNED TO RHODE ISLAND AFTER A TRIP TO EUROPE, WHERE HE WAS CHAPERONING A GROUP OF STUDENTS.

ON THE FLIGHT HOME, HE STARTED TO FEEL SICK.

HIS WIFE, BRENDA, URGED HIM TO GO TO A WALK-IN CLINIC NEAR THEIR HOME.

MARK: I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS THE FLU ON STEROIDS.

IT WAS BODY ACHES, EXTREME FATIGUE.

HEADACHE, LIKE A MIGRAINE.

DIFFICULT BREATHING, COUGHING.

HOST: HE HAS LIVED WITH ASTHMA HIS WHOLE LIFE, BUT HE SAYS THIS FELT DIFFERENT.

SEVERAL DAYS INTO BEING HOME, HIS SYMPTOMS CONTINUED TO WORSEN.

THE 48-YEAR-OLD WAS ADMITTED TO MIRIAM HOSPITAL AND BECAME THE FIRST PERSON IN RHODE ISLAND TO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

DOCTORS DID NOT KNOW IF HE WOULD SURVIVE.

MARK: I KEPT LOOKING OUT THE GLASS TO THE ICU AND THERE WERE DOZENS OF DOCTORS AND STATE OFFICIALS AND THE INFECTION TEAM AND THEY ARE ALL LOOKING AT ME.

AND I CAN SEE THEM.

AND I'M INTUBATED.

THEN THEY CAME IN AND READ ME MY LAST RITES BECAUSE NO ONE WAS SURE I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT THE NEXT 12 HOURS.

HOST: HE SPENT THREE WEEKS FIGHTING DOUBLED AMMONIA AND COVID IN THE HOSPITAL.

ONCE HE WAS DISCHARGED, HE WAS MOTIVATED TO RETURN TO HIS ROUTINE.

HE WAS WORRIED IT WOULD TAKE SIX MONTHS OR MORE TO FULLY RECOVER.

MARK: I DID NOT WANT IT TO TAKE THAT LONG SO I JUST STARTED REALLY PUSHING MYSELF, YOU KNOW, TO EXERCISE.

HOST: BUT SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL, MARK STILL ON HIMSELF DEALING WITH LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE VIRUS.

HE HAD EXPERIENCED SHORTNESS OF BREATH FOR 10 TO 20 MINUTE INTERVALS AND HIS BLOOD OXYGEN LEVEL WAS FLUCTUATING.

SO MUCH SO, HE REMEMBERS A HEALTH CARE WORKER TURNING PALE WHILE EXAMINING HIM.

MARK: MY OXYGEN LEVEL WAS 84.

WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

THAT IS WHEN HE EXPLAINED TO ME, YOUR O2 LEVELS RIGHT NOW, YOU SHOULD BE IN THE ER.

BECAUSE YOU COULD BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

HOST: HE WAS REFERRED TO A CARDIOLOGIST.

MARK: THEY DID A STRESS TEST.

AND ALL OF THOSE TESTS CAME BACK NORMAL.

IN MY HEART WAS 100% FINE.

HOST: HOW DO DOCTORS EXPLAIN IT?

WHAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND IT?

MARK: THEY DID NOT KNOW AND THEY WOULD BE HONEST WITH ME.

THEY WOULD TELL ME WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.

YOU ARE OUR FIRST PERSON THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY STUDYING.

NO ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT LONG COVID AT THAT TIME.

YOU KNOW, THAT CONVERSATION DID NOT HAPPEN.

MONTHS LATER.

HOST: MORE THAN A MILLION AMERICANS COULD HAVE SYMPTOMS FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AFTER CONTRACTING THE VIRUS.

THERE SYMPTOMS RUN THE GAMUT FROM SHORTNESS OF BREATH TO HEART PALPITATIONS TO EXTREME FATIGUE.

SOON, DOCTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD BEGAN TO REALIZE MANY PATIENTS WERE REPORTING SYMPTOMS THAT WERE NOT GOING AWAY.

SO FOR A LOT OF US, WE THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC IS COMING TO AN END, BUT FOR MANY PATIENTS, THE PANDEMIC INDOORS ON THROUGH THIS PHENOMENON, REALLY A DISEASE CALLED LONG COVID.

DR. FRANCESCA IS AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AND CHAIR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AT BROWN UNIVERSITY.

HER AND OTHER RESEARCHERS ARE STUDYING THE IMPACT OF LONG COVID.

>> THERE ARE ESTIMATES THAT ANYWHERE FROM ONE IN 22 AS HIGH AS 30% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID-19 GO ON TO DEVELOP LONG COVID.

BUT REALLY WIDE ESTIMATES DEPENDING ON THE SOURCE.

HOST: SO THAT WOULD MEAN TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE DEALING WITH LONG COVID.

>> POTENTIALLY AT THE HIGHER END, IF WE ARE THINKING ABOUT 80 MILLION PLUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED AT THIS POINT.

THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

HOST: LEON E SANTOS IS AMONG THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM LONG COVID.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW, YOU COULD GO IN ONE DAY BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING STOMACH PAINS AND THAT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WAKING UP A MONTH AND A HALF LATER.

AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS CHANGED.

HOST: SANTOS HAS BEEN DEALING WITH RECURRING SYMPTOMS SINCE SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID-19 IN APRIL OF 2021.

SHE WAS FIVE MONTHS PREGNANT WHEN SHE WAS PLACED IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED, AT RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL.

WHEN SHE WOKE UP A MONTH AND A HALF LATER, SHE LEARNED SHE HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO HER DAUGHTER CHARLOTTE.

>> AND THEN I REMEMBER ASKING THEM AND I'M JUST LIKE I POINTED TOWARDS MY BELLY AND I LIKE HOW IS THE BABY?

AND THEN THEY JUST SHOOK THEIR HEAD.

AND IN THAT MOMENT, I DID NOT HAVE A REACTION, BECAUSE I AM JUST LIKE PROCESSING.

SO THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE SAVED.

HOST: HER DAUGHTER LIVED FOR EIGHT DAYS AND PASSED AWAY WHILE SANTOS WAS STILL IN A COMA.

>> THE MAIN THING IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CHARLOTTE LIVED.

SHE WAS HERE.

IT IS HARD.

I WISH SHE WAS HERE, BUT SHE IS NOT.

SO I'VE GOT TO KEEP GOING.

THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON ME.

HOST: ALONG WITH GRIEVING FOR THE LOSS OF HER CHILD, SANTOS CONTINUES TO HAVE COVID SYMPTOMS.

INCLUDING A PERSISTENT COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, BRAIN FOG, ANXIETY AND BODY ACHES.

>> YOU LOOK AT ME, YOU THINK OH, SHE'S FINE.

THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON.

AND IT'S LIKE LITTLE DO YOU KNOW, MY BACK IS LIKE ON FIRE RIGHT NOW.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY HARD.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET UP AND WALK AROUND AND HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF HOUSEHOLD DUTIES.

IT'S HARD TO STAND IN FRONT OF THE STOVE AND COOKING, IT HURTS.

HOST: HER FAMILY IS HER MOTIVATION TO KEEP GOING.

SHE TAKES HER FATHER TO DIALYSIS IN ADDITION TO WORKING TWO PART-TIME JOBS.

SANTOS SAYS SHE AND HER HUSBAND, WHO ALSO HAD COVID, DEPLETED THEIR SAVINGS WHILE THEY WERE SICK.

>> AND A LOT OF IT IS STILL VERY TRAINED.

HOST: THE LITTLE DRIVING SHE DOES DO IS TO GO TO WORK AND TO HELP HER FAMILY.

>> I JUST WOULD RATHER LIMIT MY SOCIAL CIRCLE AND WHO I AM AROUND, BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO HAVE COVID ONCE AGAIN, CONSIDERING IT WAS SO SEVERE.

HOST: EVEN PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS OR HAD MILD SYMPTOMS CAN STILL DEVELOP LONG COVID.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE A SEEMINGLY VERY MILD CASE AND THEN GO ON TO DEVELOP SYMPTOMS THAT ARE DELAYED AND ON-SITE.

HOST: LONG COVID QUALIFIES AS A DISABILITY UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT BUT DR. BEAUDOIN SAYS SHE HAS FOUND THAT PATIENTS BECOME FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET A DIAGNOSIS, SINCE THERE IS NO FORMAL TEST TO CHECK IF THEY EVEN HAVE THE CONDITION.

AND WORSE.

>> THEY FEEL THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT BELIEVE THEM.

THEY FEEL GAS LIT BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE BEING MADE TO FEEL LIKE THIS IS ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION FROM THE PANDEMIC, OR THAT THEY ARE CRAZY AND IT'S IN THEIR HEAD.

IT'S HOST: SANTOS KNOWS IT IS NOT IN HER HEAD.

SHE SPENT MONTHS IN REHAB, WORKING TO REGAIN HER STRENGTH.

ARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL MAKE A FULL RECOVERY?

>> I AM VERY HOPEFUL.

I AM VERY HOPEFUL.

I DON'T FEEL THAT I SURVIVED TO LIVE IN THIS STATE.

FOREVER.

HOST: AS FOR MARK, HE SAYS HIS LINGERING COVID-19 SYMPTOMS LASTED FOR 10 MONTHS BEFORE THEY WENT AWAY.

EVERY DAY, HE SAYS, HE THINGS ABOUT HOW GRATEFUL HE FEELS TO BE ALIVE.

MARK: IT USUALLY HAPPENS ON MY DRIVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING, WHEN IT'S QUIET IN THE SUN IS COMING UP.

AND I'M LOOKING AT THE HORIZON AND I SAY TO MYSELF, I GET TO SEE ANOTHER SUNRISE AND I GET TO SEE ANOTHER GREEN GUILD AND A BLUE SKY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

HOST: MARK AND SANTOS ARE FULLY VACCINATED, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SHOTS WHEN THEY CONTRACT THE VIRUS.

VACCINES HAD NOT YET BEEN DEVELOPED WHEN MARK BECAME SICK IN MARCH OF 2020.

AND NOW, WE TURN TO A STORY THAT OFFERS HOPE THROUGH TRAGEDY.

IF IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE HEARING MORE ABOUT SHOOTINGS THESE DAYS, YOU'RE RIGHT.

IN 20 20, MURDERS IN THE UNITED STATES JUMPED MORE THAN 27%.

THE SHARPEST INCREASE IN SIX DECADES.

LAST YEAR, MURDER RATES WENT UP AGAIN.

PROVIDENCE EXPERIENCED ALMOST TWO DOZEN HOMICIDES IN 2021.

THE HIGHEST NUMBER AFTER A DECADE OF DECLINE IN VIOLENT CRIME.

TONIGHT, A LOOK AT GUNS AND GANGS DOMINATING THE NEWS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO TURN IT AROUND.

>> TWO DAYS AFTER THE CITY'S 23RD HOMICIDE OF THE YEAR, PROVIDENCE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SEPARATE SHOOTING.

NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE DEADLY WE CAN SHOOTING AND THE MAN WHO WAS KILLED.

>> A 20-YEAR-OLD MAN SHOT IN MANSON AVENUE IN PROVIDENCE LAST NIGHT.

>> THESE ARE THE STREETS THAT MADE ME WHO I AM FOR BETTER OR WORSE.

YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD.

THIS IS A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, A LOT OF PEOPLE, VERY DIVERSE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CHOOSE A PATH THAT LEADS TO DEATH OR PRISON.

HOST: MANY OF THOSE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF THAT PATH ARE YOUNG MEN.

OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH STREET GANGS.

THOMAS LUMPKIN'S IS A FORMER GANG MEMBER WHO HAS TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND AND IS NOW HELPING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

BUT HE SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY AND PERSONAL TRAGEDIES.

THOMAS: I JUST RECENTLY LOST MY LITTLE BROTHER.

HE WAS MURDERED RECENTLY.

HOST: YOUR BROTHER?

YOU LOST YOUR BROTHER?

HE WAS MURDERED?

HERE IN PROVIDENCE?

THOMAS: YES.

>> THE VICTIM'S NAME WAS TORRANCE LANKAN'S AND HIS BROTHER SAID HE WAS A GOOD MAN.

THOMAS: IT THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU CAN NEVER COME BACK FROM.

YOU HAVE TO CREATE A NEW NORMAL FOR YOURSELF.

BEFORE I TURNED 18, I HAD ALREADY BEEN TO AT LEAST THREE FUNERALS OF CLOSE FRIENDS.

HOST: BEFORE THE AGE OF 18?

THOMAS: YES.

HOST: YOU LOST THREE FRIENDS?

THOMAS: YES.

IN HIGH SCHOOL AND JUST RECENTLY, I JUST FULFILLED A FIVE-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR ACTIONS I'M NOT THAT PROUD OF HOST: CAN YOU SAY WHAT HAPPENED?

THOMAS: I WAS ARRESTED FOR FIREARMS AND DRUG CHARGES.

HOST: YOU MADE BAD CHOICES.

THOMAS: YEAH.

HOST: WHY, THOMAS?

THOMAS: MY MOM HAD FIVE KIDS AND THREE OF US ARE BOYS AND THERE IS NO FATHERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD, SO, YOU KNOW, SHE DID THE BEST SHE COULD.

SHE DID A GREAT JOB WITH WHAT SHE HAD AT HER DISPOSAL.

THERE IS A LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND IT SHAPES THEIR PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS IS ALL THAT THEY HAVE.

THEIR SELF-WORTH IS AFFECTED BY WHAT THEY SEE AROUND THEM, SO THEY JUST DIVE INTO THIS LIFESTYLE.

THEY DIE OR THEY ARE IN PRISON.

WANT TO GO TO PRISON, IT IS NOT A REHABILITATIVE ENVIRONMENT.

IT IS JUST A WAREHOUSE FOR CRIMINALS.

THERE IS ALWAYS CONSTANT THREAT WHEN YOU ARE LIVING THIS LIFESTYLE.

PEOPLE DIE, YOU SEE PEOPLE DIE AND THINGS HAPPEN, YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

SOMETIMES IT'S EITHER FIGHT OR FLIGHT.

HOST: SO TODAY, IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HE WANTS COMMITTED CRIMES, LUMPKIN'S NOW MENTORS AT RISK YOUTH.

THOMAS: THAT IS THE FIRST STEP.

IT ALL STARTS WITH TRYING, EFFORT.

A COMP SCHMITZ, YOU GOT TO FEEL ACCOMPLISHMENTS -- ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

HOST: LUMPKIN'S WORKS OF THE NONVIOLENCE INSTITUTE IN SOUTH PROVIDENCE.

IT WAS FOUNDED TO GENERATE PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES TO GANG LIFE.

THE ORGANIZATION SOUGHT HIM OUT BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN THERE.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE CREW, WHICH IS A NEW WORD KIND OF FOR A GANG?

THOMAS: JUST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.

I WOULD ALWAYS SAY I WAS IN A GANG, BUT THAT'S HOW THE LAW CLASSIFIES IT.

IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE IS VIOLENCE AND JUST ANGER, INNER ANGER FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TURMOIL WITH THIS STREET OR THIS FAMILY OR THINGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU JUST BAND TOGETHER TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.

NOWADAYS, IT IS LIKE IT'S COOL TO BE IN A GANG.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, IT WAS MORE ABOUT US JUST PROTECTING OURSELVES IN FINDING OUR OWN IDENTITIES.

>> SOME OF THEM FEEL LIKE THE GANGS ARE THERE FAMILIES.

HOST: MAJOR DAVID THE PEYTON IS COMMANDER OF THE INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION IN THE PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> GOOD KIDS, MOST OF THEM, NOT ALL OF THEM.

THEY'RE GOOD KIDS.

A LOT OF THESE KIDS WORK.

THEY HAVE JOBS.

AND THEY ARE NOT HANGING OUT ON THE CORNER, THEY ARE NOT THAT ANGRY, BITTER PERSON WHO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE A GANG KID.

HOST: ARE THERE A LOT OF GANGS IN PROVIDENCE?

>> I WOULD NOT SAY THERE'S A TON OF GANGS.

SEE, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE A GANG DOES NOT GET TOGETHER AND REGISTER THEMSELVES.

SO YOU AND I HANGING ON THE STREET CORNER AND ANOTHER FRIEND COMES AND HANG AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

WE CALL OURSELVES THIS AND, IT STARTS LIKE THAT.

>> WHAT IS UP RIGHT NOW HIS GUN VIOLENCE, WHICH IS DEEPLY, DEEPLY CONCERNING TO ALL OF US.

WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO IS INVOLVED WITH GUNS OR INVOLVING GANGS, IT IS DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

HOST: ACCORDING TO PROVIDENCE POLICE, THREE PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND ONE PERSON WAS STABBED INSIDE A LOUNGE HERE THIS MORNING.

>> I WOULD SAY MANY OF THE HOMICIDES ARE DUE TO NOTHING MORE THAN AN INSULT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

HOST: REALLY?

>> YES.

IT IS NOT ABOUT GUNS OR MAYBE A GIRLFRIEND, AN OLD GIRLFRIEND WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU WOULD SEE IN THE OLD DAYS, WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT TURF AND MONEY.

IT'S JUST NOT LIKE THAT.

AND YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU SAY THIS IS JUST FOOLISH.

NOT ONLY ARE YOU TAKING A LIFE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO GET YOU.

AND IF YOU SHOOT THEM AND YOU KILL THEM, YOU'RE GOING AWAY FOR LIFE.

SO YOU'RE GONE TOO.

IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.

HOST: IN ALL THERE WERE SOME 75 SHOOTINGS IN PROVIDENCE LAST YEAR, 23 WERE MURDERS.

THE HIGHEST JUMP IN A DECADE.

IT IS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THE VIOLENCE IN THE HOMICIDES.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> WELL, IF I WAS TO POINT AT ONE REASON WHY THE MURDER RATE IS GOING UP, I WOULD SAY IT IS THE GUNS ON THE STREET.

THERE'S A LOT MORE GUNS ON THE STREET.

IF YOU REMEMBER DURING THE COVID DAYS, A YEAR AGO, THERE WAS LINES OUTSIDE OF GUN STORES.

SOME PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT AND BECAME STRAW BUYERS.

HOST: WHAT IS A STRAW BUYER?

>> SOMEBODY WHO CAN GO IN AND LEGALLY BUY A GUN.

YOU TAKE IT HOME AND SELL IT TO SOMEBODY WHO CANNOT LEGALLY BUY IT.

HOST: BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD?

>> RIGHT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE FIREARMS ARE COVERED RECENTLY.

HOST: CONTROL OFFICER FRANK MOONEY SAYS PROVIDENCE POLICE COLLECTED A RECORD 200 GUNS LASHER.

FRANK: IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO MAKE A STOP AND RECOVER A GUN.

OR MORE OF THEM THAN ONE OR TWO.

HOST: HE SAYS NOT ONLY IS THERE AN ARSENAL OUT THERE, THE WEAPONS TURN UP EVERYWHERE.

FRANK: ONE INSTANCE I CAME TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING AND I GET OFF AT 95 NORTH AT POINT STREET AND THERE WAS A GUN IN THE INTERSECTION WITH THE MAGAZINE.

SO, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, SOMEBODY HAD DUMPED THAT GUN AT THE INTERSECTION.

THERE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS UPTICK IN VIOLENCE, OBVIOUSLY.

HOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING SHOT, IT IS A PROBLEM.

>> MY DAUGHTER HAD THESE PEOPLE HIS LIES.

HOST: ARTIST JEN BARROS UNDERSTANDS HOW BULLETS CAN RIP A FINALLY APART.

DURING A ROBBERY IN 2012, 3 NEIGHBORHOOD MEN FATALLY -- FATALLY SHOT HER DAUGHTER IN HER PROVIDENCE HOME.

>> WHEN I GOT THE NEWS, WHEN I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, I WAS MEETING RAN AWAY WITH THE DETECTIVES.

I THINK ONE OF THEM.

I SAID IF YOU GO IN THERE, IF YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT HER EYES.

SHE HAS PRETTY HAZEL EYES.

I'LL KNOW IT'S HER.

OR IF YOU CAN JUST SHAKE HER AND TELL HER HER MOM IS OUTSIDE.

BUT HE SAYS, MA'AM, I AM SORRY.

AND I JUST KNEW THAT SHE WAS GONE.

I KNEW SHE WAS GONE.

>> RED AND GREEN IS A PIECE THAT I CREATED.

HOST: GRADUALLY, SHE SAYS SHE FOUND HEALING THROUGH OUR PURE IT ONE OF HER RECENT PAINTINGS REFLECT IN THE CITIES LIKE SHED IS CALLED RED RAIN.

IT HANGS AT THE NONVIOLENCE INSTITUTE WHERE BARROS IS NOW A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP TRAINER.

>> I WANTED IT TO SAY THAT WE ALL BLEED THE SAME.

THAT WE ARE ALL BEING AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE.

HOST: ANOTHER LOCAL ARTIST, PROVIDENCE WRAPPER HAMMER BECAME THE CITY'S 23RD MURDER VICTIM LESTER.

IT IS NO NAME, JAMES OWENS.

HE IS THOMAS LUMPKIN'S COUSIN.

THE TRAUMA YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH, HOW IS THAT AFFECTED YOU?

THOMAS: I LIKE TO THINK IT IS MAKING ME A BETTER PERSON.

I LIKE TO USE EVERYTHING I GO THROUGH TO BUILD MYSELF UP AND BUILD UP THOSE AROUND ME.

THERE IS DEFINITELY TIMES WHERE IT SHAKES ME.

I TRY TO BE AUTHENTIC WITH WHO I AM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I CAME FROM WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

TO SOME DEGREE I STILL AM THAT KID FROM THE STREETS, BUT I AM ELEVATING MYSELF, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I TRY TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING FULL POTENTIAL.

HOST: HE IS DOING THAT BY COACHING TEENAGERS.

>> ALWAYS SEE POTENTIAL, EVEN THOUGH HE'S A LITTLE KNUCKLEHEAD.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT SINCE I'M YOUNG, DUMB MINDED, TRYING TO MAKE ME RETHINK.

HE DID THE OPPOSITE, TRYING TO MAKE ME DO BETTER.

HOST: LUMPKIN'S SAYS HE IS TRYING HARD TO END THE CYCLE OF GANG VIOLENCE BY GAINING THE TRUST OF KIDS WHO MIGHT CONSEQUENCES ON EITHER END OF A GUN.

>> FOR ME, I FEEL A FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

I FEEL LIKE I LIKE TO TELL MYSELF THAT I AM DESTINED FOR GREAT THINGS AND I LIKE TO MAKE THE MOVES TO BRING MYSELF CLOSER TO THAT GOAL.

BUT I DO FEEL LIKE I HAVE A CHANCE AT REDEMPTION AND ACTUALLY EXACTING CHANGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LOVE.

HOST: RECENTLY, PROVIDENCE MAYOR JORGE ELORZA ANNOUNCED MORE THAN ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL RESCUE PLAN WILL HELP TO ESTABLISH CITYWIDE NONVIOLENCE TRAINING AND NEW -- YOUTH MENTOR SHIP PROGRAMS.

SOME MONEY WILL GO TO THE NONVIOLENCE INSTITUTE.

FINALLY TONIGHT, CONTRIBUTE IN REPORTER TILL BARTHOLOMEW INTRODUCES US TO ONE MAN AND A GROUP OF AREA TEENS WHO ARE FIGHTING GUN VIOLENCE WITH AN UNLIKELY WEAPON.

I'VE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO DIED FROM CANCER.

I'VE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED FROM AUTO ACCIDENTS.

TAKING THEIR LIVES IN OTHER WAYS.

>> BUT I DON'T KNOW FIVE PEOPLE THAT OF DIE FROM ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

BILL: BUT PROVIDENCE ARTIST AND EDUCATOR SCOTT LATHAM DOES KNOW FIVE PEOPLE WHO DIED FROM ONE SINGLE OR CAUSE.

GUN VIOLENCE.

ONE OF HIS FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH GUN TRAGEDY WAS LOSING ONE OF HIS STUDENTS.

>> STANDING IN LINE AT A FOOD TRUCK TO GET A SANDWICH AND HE GOT SHOT.

AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY INTENSE, REALLY DEASTATING.

BILL: SOON AFTER, HE LOST THREE MORE STUDENTS AND REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A MUCH FOR YOUR PROBLEM.

>> THERE WAS ERIC, DOUG, AND VINNIE.

AND OVER THE YEARS, I REALLY STARTED TO THINK ABOUT IT MORE.

LIKE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, HOW CRAZY IT WAS.

BILL: CRAZY AND CLOSE TO HOME.

LATHAM SAYS THE LOSSES BROUGHT BACK A MEMORY HE HAD LONG TRIED TO SUPPRESS.

HIS STEPBROTHER TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.

>> THAT WAS A FAMILY TRAGEDY AND I DID NOT REALLY THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GUN VIOLENCE.

SO I REALLY STARTED TO LOOK AT GUN VIOLENCE SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND IT WAS NOT -- PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY ACROSS THE WORLD.

PEOPLE HAVE CONFLICT ACROSS THE WORLD.

BUT NOT EVERY CULTURE HAS SO MANY GUNS.

TO MAKE OUR HUMAN BEHAVIORS DEADLY AND FATAL AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE.

BILL: LATHAM DECIDED TO BLEND HIS EXPERIENCES WITH GUN VIOLENCE, ADVOCACY, ART AND EDUCATION INTO ONE PROJECT WITH A MISSION TO GET PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

LAUNCHING ONE GUN GONE INTO THOUSAND 13, HE AND HIS STUDENTS TAKE MOLDS OF GUNS, DEVELOP A STATEMENT OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY, AND CONVERT THE DEADLY WEAPONS INTO ART AND HOPEFULLY, START A DIALOGUE.

>> MIGHT JUST BE THE NEXT MAYOR.

BILL: STUDENTS LIKE JEREMY PEREZ HAVE EXPANSE TO THIS SORT OF TRAGEDY AROUND THEM AND SAY THEY HAVE FOUND A SAFE HAVEN THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

JEREMY: BILL HAS AFFECTED MY COMMUNITY A LOT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD BEEN SHOT AND KILLED.

IT'S STUFF YOU SEE AT AN EARLY AGE AND IT AFFECTS HOW, AS A KID GROWING UP, BEING ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND HAVE FUN.

IT IS VERY HARD WHEN YOU HEAR GUNSHOTS AND HAVE TO RUN BACK HOME.

BILL: ONE GUN GONE HAS GIVEN STUDENTS LIKE PEREZ A PLACE TO CHANNEL THEIR ENERGY.

AND WHEN PIECES ARE SOLD, THE WORK HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL STUNNING PIECES OF ART.

DISPLAYED IN VARIOUS SPACES, INCLUDING RISD.

THE IDEAS AND MATERIALS USED ARE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS.

>> WE WANTED TO DO IT IN GLASS.

WE DID NOT REALIZE HOW AMBITIOUS THAT WAS GOING TO BE, BUT THE REASON WE WANTED TO USE GLASSES BECAUSE IT IS TRANSPARENT.

IT MADE US THINK OF THE FLEETING THIS OF LIFE.

IF THIS DROPS, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR IT TO SHATTER.

AND THAT IS TALKING ABOUT A GUN IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY THINK OF IT, WHICH IS GUNS ARE POWERFUL.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ALL ABOUT POWER.

WHERE'D YOU GO FROM THERE?

>> WE THOUGHT THE PROJECT WOULD END, BUT THEN WE STARTED THINKING WHY SHOULD IT AND?

WE HAVE A MOLD, WHAT ELSE CAN WE PUT IN IT?

BILL: ONE OF THE PROGRAM'S MOST POWERFUL DESIGNS IS THE PENCIL GUN.

>> WHAT I ALWAYS SAY IS THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD.

THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT THE MESSAGE WAS.

BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WHO LOOKS AT IT, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE JUST LIKE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.

ONE YOUNG MAN CAME IN AND WE WERE EXPECTING THIS, HE LOOKED AT IT AND HE SAID THIS DOES NOT HAVE AN ERASER.

AND YOU CANNOT TAKE IT BACK.

BILL: ONE STUDENT AND ARTIST SAYS THAT GUN VIOLENCE HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT PROGRAMS LIKE ONE GUN GONE ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

>> IT IS DEFINITELY GOTTEN WORSE.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF THAT KIND OF INFLUENCES THAT.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF -- NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, WHETHER IT IS THE MUSIC PEOPLE LISTEN TO, THE PEOPLE THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH.

I CAN DEFINITELY SAY IT IS GROWING DAY BY DAY.

HOST: AND ARE THINGS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW FOR THAT REPORT.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

I AM PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AT RIPBS.ORG/ WEEKLY OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

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