LEXINGTON, Ky. — The city of Lexington reported four homicides have taken place so far in 2022, with the youngest victim being 10 years old. It’s why one Lexington man is mentoring youth to bring awareness to the realities of gun violence.
Damion Riley does so in an hour-long presentation called “Project Body Bag.”
What You Need To Know
- Damion Riley is born and raised in Lexington
- Riley founded Project Body Bag in 2014 to mentor youth and deter them from gun violence
- Riley gives his presentations monthly in Lexington, and he invites other community activist and leaders
Riley developed his vision to stop the murders in Lexington and Evansville, Indiana, where Riley lived for five years.
In 2014, Riley started doing his Project Body Bag presentations as a wake up call to youth. He planned his presentation after watching community activists like Devine Carama.
His latest presentation took place in Lexington’s Dunbar Community Center for youth and adults to watch.
“I wanted to do something different, and I went to the coroner’s office and asked them for a body bag and that’s when the Project Body Bag was born,” Riley said. “I had that vision and I wanted to give a different kind of vision, so hopefully we can stop the murders.”
Caution tape and flashing lights are the reality of gun violence. In a moment’s notice, it could turn into a life lost and a grieving family desperate for answers.
According to the City of Lexington, there have already been four homicides in 2022, with the youngest victim being just 10 years old.
“We’re tired of putting kids in body bags. We’re tired of putting young adults in body bags. We’re tired of adults giving kids drugs,” said Riley.
Riley had his own run in with drugs and guns. It’s what sent him to jail in 2007 for a year and took him away from his six children.
That’s what made him turn a new leaf into mentoring children of the next generation with his body bag presentation. It brings light to the realities and consequences of gun violence.
“I want to see them make it,” Riley said. “After I’m gone from this earth, I want to see future presidents, future lawyers, doctors and surgeons.”
Riley doesn’t want children’s futures in Lexington to be in handcuffs. He said there is hope of decreasing gun violence in the city, but it starts with sticking together and spreading the message.
“We want to travel with this thing, all over to 50 states, wherever we can to give this message and this view,” said Riley.
It’s a message Riley hopes will decrease the amount of families having to plan funerals. Riley said he hopes to host another Project Body Bag presentation in the next couple of months.