ST. LOUIS — It was a violent weekend on both sides of the river with two separate shootings leaving two teenagers hospitalized.
One of those teens is still in critical condition, as of Saturday night.
Dr. Jameca Cooper, counseling psychologist, said the impact of this violence goes well beyond the physical scars.
"It's really devastating. It's sad, and I can't help but think about the long-term impacts for these young people," she said.
No matter what age you are, being a victim of gun violence impacts you forever, but Dr. Cooper said that impact goes even deeper at a young age.
"When crime, violence, trauma occurs at a young age it makes it difficult to develop, to become an adult, and see the world as a normal safe space," Dr. Cooper said. "Now, based on what's happened, they're going to have a lens that they see everything through, and that lens is going to be really tainted through violence."
The first shooting happened in Alton, Il Saturday just before 3 p.m.
Alton police said a 13-year-old girl was standing on a porch near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Silver Street when she was shot.
When police arrived, they found the teen inside and performed life-saving measures. She was taken to a St. Louis area hospital with serious injuries.
Then on Sunday morning, St. Louis police responded to a shooting in the 5500 block of Floy Avenue. That's when they found a 14-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wounds.
According to police, the teen indicated he was an occupant of a white Toyota vehicle when he was shot but wouldn't provide any more information.
"I think it's going to be a lot that they'll be dealing with. All the way from post-traumatic stress disorder, which includes feelings, memories, nightmares, flashbacks, any of those things that could pop up in the immediate time from years later, but all the way things like depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, trust, hypervigilance, all of those are possibilities now that they've experienced these really traumatic events," Dr. Cooper said.
Dr. Cooper said when this type of violence happens, it doesn't only impact the victim, but also the victim's family, friends, and the community around them.
That's why, she said, gun violence needs to be fixed.
"It used to be a very isolated incident, only occurring in these areas to these people. Now it's occurring everywhere to everyone, so it's everyone's family at risk, so for that reason, we really have to do something about it," Dr. Cooper said.
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.