VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach police have charged a teen in a Nov. 10 Newtown Road shooting, with the age of the accused gunman — and the victim — catching the attention of a community activist who says we need to shift our focus if we want to curb youth violence.

Pastor Barry Randall-Jenkins believes outreach to our youth is a good thing, if a little flawed.

“We’re taken them to show them a three-course meal, we’re teaching them about how to tie a necktie, we’re teaching him how to dress for success,” Randall-Jenkins said Monday, “but then we go and place that child right back in a dysfunctional home, whose parents are not saying good morning, but rather yelling and screaming ‘Get up, it’s time to go to school.'”

It’s a vicious cycle for many troubled youth.

Last week, Virginia Beach police arrested a 15-year-old boy for shooting another 15-year-old, seriously injuring him. And, should the teen charged in the shooting be convicted, he would end up with a felony on his record, and with a felony on his record, the pastor said the boy will have limited opportunities if he wants to turn his life around down the road.

Randall-Jenkins said we should focus more on the home.

“A lot of parents just don’t know how to be a mom, don’t know how to be a dad,” Randall-Jenkins said. “Many of them are raising children by themselves. We’re not saying you’re not a good mom, we’re not saying you’re not a good father, but what we’re saying is we have resources to help you navigate your own issues so that you can be a better mom and be a better dad.”

The root of the issue he said? A need to feel wanted. Readily providing it at home is key so they don’t go looking for it in the wrong places.

“They’re looking for a place to belong, they’re looking for some self-worth and they’re looking for love,” Randall-Jenkins said. “And if we don’t receive the love at home, then we receive what we think is love in the streets.”

Randall-Jenkins will begin a mentoring class for parents beginning Wednesday nights in January. They’ll be held at All People Cultural Life Church 3622 Western Branch Boulevard in Portsmouth at 7 p.m. To sign up, you can email the pastor at BarryRandallJenkins@gmail.com or call him at 757-692-8877.

Other resources can be found at Firstthingsfirst.org or by calling the Parent Stress Line at 1-800-632-8188.