Life on Steel Street: 11 shootings in 2015

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For some, it's a fact of life - hearing gunshots on Steel Street in Detroit is almost expected. But for others, it's an epidemic that's spreading and they're putting the blame on the younger generation.

Steel Street on Detroit has seen its ups and downs over the years. But the roughly three mile section from 7 Mile to Schoolcraft was particularly dangerous in 2015.

Police investigated 11 different shootings since January 1, 2015. The most recent being the shooting death of 7-year-old Chanell Berry on December 27th as she was playing with toys.

Aaron Kirkwood has lived on Steel Street for four decades and has seen the change.

"I've been in this block all my life it's just sad. This block has changed dramatically over the years," he said.

He's not the only one. Robert Carmichael has lived here for 35 years but says gunshots are a fact of life.

"I do hear shots around the neighborhood at night. For me it's nothing new," Carmichael said. "What street doesn't have crime?"

Of the 11 shootings, three were homicides, including Chanell's. Her mom, Kiana Johnson said she needs prayers as her family tries to heal.

"Continue to pray for me and my family because it's going to be hard it get through," Johnson also said she plans to move away from the violence. "I couldn't spend the rest of my life without my babies so I'm going to need a fresh start."

We talked with another resident of Steel Street who wouldn't give his name. He said it's not as bad as it seems.

"It hasn't been that bad. there'd be a couple arugments now and then but it hasn't been that serious," he said.

To be fair, some of the 11 shootings were domestic related. Not all were random robberies or gang and drug-related crimes.

Despite Johnson's plan to move her family, others are not moving.

"This is where I live. this is where I grew up and I"m not going anywhere," Kirkwood said he's not going anywhere and admits he could get killed. "You just have to stay prayed up and protect yourself."