How Fort Worth Is Reducing Shootings

In the fight against gun violence, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Every city has its own challenges, and strategies must adapt to local realities. In Fort Worth, Texas, Pastor Rodney McIntosh and his team are proving that personal connection, case management, and relentless support can turn the tide. Their organization, Violence Intervention and Prevention Fort Worth (VIP Fort Worth), is based on the Advance Peace model from California and is showing striking results.

McIntosh and many of his team members know the streets because they once lived them. Now they are known as neighborhood change agents — men and women who return to the same neighborhoods they once caused chaos in, determined to repair the damage. They identify those most at risk of shooting or being shot and enroll them in Peacemaker Fellowships.

The fellows receive daily mentorship, emotional support, and opportunities to travel and grow. The goal is not only to stop the next shooting but to change lives by surrounding individuals with trust, opportunity, and hope.

“We are consistently engaging a group that nobody ever engaged. They say it’s really only one percent of the population that is driving most of the violence. Well, that one percent needs to be engaged by somebody," says McIntosh. "Can you imagine being a young man who never had resources? Never had anyone even seem like they were concerned with your well-being? It’s beautiful when you get to a point where they call you to let you know where they are at, because what they are really saying is: I need some help.” 

VIP’s approach is different from traditional law enforcement. The team makes it clear they are not the police. Their role is to be a constant presence, mediating conflicts, de-escalating situations, and preventing retaliation. They spend hours each day with the young people they mentor, often checking in multiple times daily.

This consistency builds trust where few adults have ever shown up before. One mother, grateful for the program’s support of her son, told McIntosh’s team: “I didn’t even know men like y’all still existed in our community.”

The impact has been undeniable. In the first six months of 2023, Fort Worth recorded zero gang-related shootings, compared to 25 in the same period the year before. The dramatic turnaround is widely credited to the street-level outreach of VIP Fort Worth.

Despite funding challenges, VIP continues to earn respect from city leaders and the community alike. Their work is grounded in emotional intelligence, conflict mediation, and trauma awareness. For many fellows, simply having someone to call before they act has made the difference between violence and another chance at life.

Fort Worth’s success shows what can be possible when those closest to the problem are trusted to be part of the solution. The work demonstrates that investing in credible messengers and community-rooted support doesn’t just reduce shootings — it can save lives and strengthen entire neighborhoods.