On Friday, June 5, for National Gun Violence Awareness Day, trauma teams from MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, gathered at Long Beach City Hall with a broad coalition of community partners working together to prevent gun violence across Long Beach and surrounding communities.
Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle accidents. In 2024 alone, nearly 4,000 young lives were lost to gun violence, including nearly 700 children under the age of 14—an average of approximately 11 children every day.
“From January 2025 through March 2026, 110 individuals were treated for gunshot wounds at our Trauma Center, including 12 children, and 10 lives were lost, including one child,” said Gary Purushotham, chief executive officer, Long Beach Medical Center. “When we talk about gun violence, it can be easy to focus only on moments that make headlines. But for many families, this is not a moment; it is something they carry long after the incident is over.”
The event brought together leaders across health care, public safety and community organizations, including Councilwoman Cindy Allen (District Two), the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Long Beach Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department—including the Forensics Division and Youth and Community Engagement Division—Long Beach Trauma Intervention Program, Justice for Murdered Children, and additional community organizations.
Attendees wore orange, the nationally recognized color of gun violence prevention, to honor victims and survivors. The gathering aimed to educate, empower, and inspire community members to take action to prevent further tragedy and save lives.
While data highlights the scale of the issue, the impact on children can last far beyond the initial injury.
“As a children’s hospital, we see the impact of gun violence beyond the initial injury—from long hospital stays to rehabilitation, and the emotional and developmental effects that can last for years,” said Lara Khouri, chief executive officer, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “Recovery for a child is not just physical. It affects their mental health, development and future.”
During the event, the Long Beach Medical Center trauma team conducted “Stop the Bleed” demonstrations, teaching attendees how to control life-threatening bleeding in emergency situations, while nurses provided hands-only CPR instruction.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day is observed annually on the first Friday in June. It was established in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013. Her friends chose to wear orange, traditionally worn by hunters for safety, to commemorate her life and advocate for gun violence prevention. Since 2015, when Hadiya would have turned 18, the #WearOrange movement has grown into a national symbol of solidarity and a call to action as gun violence continues to impact communities across the country.
