RCMP guard the scene of a shooting on Downey Road (Craig Paisley/CBC)

A pastor in North Preston is mounting a community effort to end violence after a recent homicide.

Rev. Wallace Smith, says the the violence in his community has to stop.

Narico Danefu Downey, 23, was shot and later died Sunday night.

Downey's former basketball coaches say he was a respectful young man who did as he was told.

He also got into trouble with the law. He was one of five men charged in connection with a 2009 kidnapping and robbery at a Dartmouth bowling alley. Downey pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the robbery after the fact. He received an 18-month conditional sentence.

Smith met with other community leaders Tuesday night to talk about the problem.

"I think one of the main things we need to do is start putting in place some jobs for these young men," said Smith.

He's urging families to talk to their children about making their community safe.

"It troubles me that they're able to get a gun at a certain age. You know back in the day you had to be a certain age to get a gun, but now they're getting guns at 13, 14, 15-years-old. You can't just go in a store and purchase that, they're getting them from somewhere and we're trying to figure out how that's happening," he said.

Rev. Wallace Smith, says the the violence in North Preston has to stop (CBC)

Coun. David Hendsbee says there have been gun amnesty programs in the past, but they don't seem to work.

"Gun amnesty is one program. The second thing is just to do a crackdown. Any guns that are found, crackdown."

Hendsbee says the community should encourage families to turn their unwanted guns over to authorities.

Smith says he plans to reach out to families in North Preston and urge them to talk to their young.

"Kids are leaving home at a younger age than they did before. No education, no jobs. And they get out and hang with the wrong crowds and then they get in trouble," he said.

A community meeting about violence in North Preston is scheduled for Aug. 10.