CINCINNATI — City leaders joined federal law enforcement officials at Cincinnati Police Department headquarters Thursday afternoon to outline a plan to slow a recent rise in local gun violence.

Mayor John Cranley said Cincinnati had seen a 13.8% decrease in shootings year-to-date compared to 2020, but the number remains "far too high." There were 104 shootings in the city between May and June of this year.

Cranley specifically mentioned the Fourth of July incident at Smale Riverfront Park. It left both shooters dead and three bystanders injured. Four of those involved, including one of the people killed, were under the age of 18.

"You see a group of 500 youths together, there are going to be some problems — that’s normal, that’s natural," said Police Chief Eliot Isaac. "But when you have one or two that are in possession of a firearm, now it’s turned into something much different. Deadly. And that’s the tragedy that we saw last weekend."

Shooting statistics for Cincinnati - July 2021 (Provided)

Cranley and Isaac said they've been working for months with the U.S. Attorney for Southwest Ohio's office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives. The group's focus is getting illegal guns and those who use them off the street.

Isaac, a proponent of legal gun ownership, said there are more illegal firearms than ever before. Theft is one reason for the increase, but people lawfully buying a gun for someone who shouldn't have it is a problem as well, he said.

The group will look to address the issue by opening a joint Gun Crime Intelligence Center next month. CPD and the ATF will use the space to analyze a firearm's history — manufacturing and sales details as well as whether someone used it in a crime.

Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel announced Thursday that 16 people living in Cincinnati have been arrested and charged with federal gun crimes. Fifteen are convicted felons who aren't eligible to own firearms. Many face other charges ranging from shots fired to dealing illegal drugs. One is charged in a murder-for-hire plot.

Officers recovered stolen weapons and stolen CPD body armor during the investigations into these offenses, Patel said.

“We are committed to getting guns out of the hands of people who have already been convicted of violent crimes and are prohibited under federal law from owning, possessing or controlling firearms,” he said. “Enforcement is not the only answer to reducing violent crime facing our communities, but without enforcement, there is no answer.”

This is the third wave of local gun-related cases the U.S. Attorney's office has filed since last September. They've charged a total of 52 people. Isaac said using federal charges may be an effective deterrent in some instances because of word of mouth. Each of the past two waves led to an immediate, even if temporary, "cooling off period."

"Typically after a significant (law enforcement) intervention there is a period of time where you see [decreases] in crime. Being able to achieve those sustained reductions is the challenge. And resources and things of that nature come into play as well."

@CincyPD @ChiefEIsaac briefing with the US Attorneys Office and ATF on sixteen charged with gun crimes in 3rd round of Cincinnati Gun Violence Reduction Initiative pic.twitter.com/qU5tGUhThg

— Cincinnati Police Department (@CincyPD) July 8, 2021

Isaac said he's hopeful the numbers improve over the next few weeks, especially with the addition of 20 to 25 patrol officers added to regular weekend staffing. The increased patrols start this weekend.

"Our department’s biggest asset is our presence and by adding additional resources to help with visibility and deployment, our city will be a safer place," Isaac said.

Questions arose Thursday about the timing of the added weekend staffing. Both Isaac and Cranley pointed to CPD staffing shortages. Isaac said officers have already been working added overtime due to a 90-officer deficit. CPD plans to add 83 officers in the coming months, but training takes time, he said.

Cranley said this a complex issue that the city can't arrest its way out of anyhow. It's going to take non-law enforcement resources as well. The city of Cincinnati added millions in funds to human services as part of its budget process. Things like poverty assistance, mental health services and domestic violence prevention, he said.

CPD has about 90 young people, ages 10 to 18, enrolled in its summer camps. The goal of the camps is to teach leadership and team-building skills.

"The reality is, this is all of our problem. Everyone needs to be involved: the government, the state, every individual, parents need to be responsible for their children," Isaac said. "Everybody has to have a piece of this."