After two fatal shootings in York City in just a few days, local community activist Mike Smith is pushing even harder to get a Guardian Angels chapter formed in the city.

He undertook the task last month after Guardian Angels founder Carlos Sliwa visited York. Now Smith is hoping to get more volunteers on board.

"We have to do something,"he said. "It's not enough to talk about it {the violence} anymore."

Over the weekend city resident Laquan Johnson, 20, was shot and killed on South George Street.

Last Thursday Michael Palmer, 29, was also gunned down in the city. Charles Preston, 28, turned himself into police shortly after the shooting. He's at York County Prison facing homicide charges.

Early Monday morning Christopher Hasty, 26, was shot several times while leaving a bar on East Market Street. He's recovering at the hospital.

Smith said he hopes the Guardian Angels would be a visual deterrent to crime in the city.

He said about 30 people have already expressed interest in joining the new Guardian Angels chapter. But he wants to get more people involved, especially pastors and community leaders because they're already recognizable to the youth.

You have to be at least 18 years old to join. You do not have to be a resident of York City.

To join contact Mike Smith at 854-5789 or email him at templeguardofyork@yahoo.com

For more information about the Guardian Angels go to www.guardianangels.org/

Smith said once he gets 40 people on board they'll begin training.

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