PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Businesses and residents in the Olde Towne area of Portsmouth want an end to the violence that’s fostering concerns that the area is unsafe.

It’s scenes like the shooting that took place early Sunday morning on High Street that has caused just the latest concern.

By dawn’s early light, the violence could not be mistaken, as the sound of 12 gunshots fired were unmistakable from video of the area, along with people running and trying to duck for cover.

On Monday, about 18 business owners and residents gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church to talk about the issues while preparing to deliver a cohesive message that the city, led by City Council, needs to do a better job in the name of safety. 

“There was a plan to redo downtown 25 years ago and nothing ever occurred,” said business leader Curtis Lyons. “So there have been plans, but nothing has ever happened.” 

Lyons and his supporters have identified a number of areas they want City Council to address to make the High Street/Olde Towne area safe.  

“We want additional lighting, security, more secure and more police officers, surveillance cameras,” Lyons said. “Make our city more walkable, make our city, you know, green scape.” 

Lyons also shared a plan for the future that will, at the appropriate time, be shared with the public and the city government.  

“We have an item that is going to go in front of the city manager that proposes how we can do safety in the downtown area,” Lyons said. That includes closing establishments like The High-on-High Street, which is owned by Sunshine Swinson, at earlier hours. Swinson who told us she is considering closing down at 1:30 a.m.

“We’re going to probably do about 1:30. I want to be away from anything that happens after that.”

Concerning the hours, Lyons said: “I would tell that business owner it might be a good idea if you closed the [2 a.m.] to 5 a.m. events for a while to see how it would help.”

Swinson though insists what happened Sunday morning was not caused by her business, nor does she recognize any of the people in the video as her customers.

“I’m going to be a part of the solution,” Swinson said. “I am going to be a part of keeping us safe. And anyone that comes down and does this violence need to be fully prosecuted completely, and I stand behind that.” 

And it is not lost on Lyons that Election Day is right around the political corner. 

“So, since it is voting season,” Lyons said, “make sure you vote for the proper people in. Put people that you want to see, what your city, what you want your city to look like.”