BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's only August and there have already been more homicides in Buffalo this year than in all of 2008.
Queen City residents want action to curb the disturbing trend of violence.
A peace rally was held for the family of Eric Morrow.
The message from Bishop Perry Davis is about love and forgiveness.
He wants to bring comfort to the victim's family.
Morrow's relatives want to help other families avoid their pain.
Morrow's cousin, Virginia Weary said, "We need more people to come out and help volunteer so we can stop the violence because it's horrible."
Someone shot and killed Morrow on Auburn Avenue Tuesday night.
He was only 20 years old.
Morrow's cousin Moses Weary said, "As far as I understand, wrong place wrong time."
Morrow leaves behind two young children and his fiance is expecting twins.
They will never meet their father.
Morrow is one of 38 homicide victims in Buffalo.
"What we want to do here at the Stop the Violence Foundation is give young people somewhere to go and something to do," said Bishop Perry Davis.
A community center opened a few weeks ago.
The foundation plans to open three more before the end of the year.
"I'm also very frustrated but police are working hard," said Mayor Byron Brown.
Mayor Brown says police are solving more crimes.
New surveillance cameras are being installed around the city.
He also credits the Gun Buyback program as a useful tool.
"Over two buy backs, one in 2007 and one in 2008, we got 1601 guns off the streets of the city. Those guns certainly could have been guns that were used in crimes," said the mayor.
"I think it's an excellent program. It's the best thing that could ever happen to Buffalo," Virginia Weary said.