ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Detectives are working to solve the 12th homicide in the city of St. Petersburg this year. City leaders gathered on Wednesday to call on the community to stop the violence.

Mayor Rick Kriseman and Police Chief Anthony Holloway spoke about the gun violence so far this year. In 2020, there were 15 homicides in the city; in the first three months of 2021, there have been 12.

“The victims of these 12 homicides are all African Americans," Holloway said. "Eleven were killed by gunshot. Every one of the suspects are African American. As an African American, this pains me."

Two of the homicides occurred on March 30. First, 19-year-old D'Quaz Davis was shot and killed on Fargo Street South. Two suspects have since been arrested.

A few hours later, 21-year-old K’Mia Simmons was shot and killed. Police say the shootings were unrelated.

Holloway said Simmons, who was not the intended target was holding her 1-year-old daughter at the time of the shooting, and her 2-year-old daughter was in the back seat. Simmons was in the passenger seat of a car stopped at the intersection of 18th Avenue South and 22nd Street South.

Holloway said the man who was driving took the two children after Simmons was shot, left the scene and brought them to a family member’s house. Detectives want to speak with him and anyone else who may have information about who shot Simmons. 

Kriseman and Holloway said they’re working on new initiatives to help stop the gun violence. Council member Lisa Wheeler-Bowman joined them Wednesday in calling for the violence to end. 

“No one should have to loose their loved one to senseless gun violence. But no one wants to stand up and do the right thing and I’m sick of it,” said Wheeler-Bowman. 

Anyone with information about Simmons’ case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.