DORCHESTER, MASS. (WHDH) - Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and other city leaders met to respond to a troubling trend of violent crime in the city after a recent string of three shooting deaths in one recent weekend alone.

A closed-door emergency meeting at a Dorchester church included faith leaders as well as Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden and Superintendent Mary Skipper.

Officials said there’s been a 20% uptick in violence in the last 60 days, with no signs of slowing.

“We’re always on the street,” Cox said, referring to Boston Police officers. “And I want to make sure that people understand that we’re always there for them in that way.”

One of the three homicide victims killed over the weekend included a 33-year-old mother gunned down Saturday morning in Mattapan as she walked to her car, all of which was witnessed by her 12-year-old son.

“Any single incident is extremely impactful and devastating in our communities,” Wu said on Tuesday.

The mayor said she was particularly concerned with the frequency and intensity of these crimes.

“Even more so, the frequency with which we’re now seeing young people and women as the victims in more of these situations,” the mayor told reporters.

For some, getting guns off the streets is the first priority to help residents feel safe. On Tuesday, the group said there must be a collective effort citywide to help police accomplish this task.

“Every single people that lives in a neighborhood has a job to do,” said City Councilor Kendra Lara. “We need to start making our communities and other peoples children and our own children our business.”

“Stop using them,” Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said when asked if he had a message for those carrying illegal firearms in the city. “Stop using them – it’s a path to nowhere.”

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