Rochester Part of Bigger Picture: "Vicarious Trauma"

A camera crew from New York City gives voice and vision to violence.

Rochester will be part of a nationwide look at the conscience behind crime.

"I'm interested as a journalist in the thinking behind the use of weapons," said Kimberly Soenen, Producer.

Kimberly Soenen and a crew from New York called for the community to come back to the scene of a homicide that took place on this street in the spring.

"It's an exploration into our collective consciousness and the unique brand of american violence," added Soenen.

The project, "Vicarious Trauma" invites those who live, work and volunteer here to be photographed.

Their portraits will make up a nationwide exhibit showcasing the faces of those touched by violence.

Lawerence Richardson was gunned down here on Dayton street in April. The gunman pulled out a handgun, opened fire, and fled.

The 22 year old Richardson was working to better the lives of young people at the center for teen empowerment.

"He really represented the word resiliant. He grew, he was strong. He came back. He got on top. He was ready to move forward. In life with something positive, said Rashad Smith, Richardson's cousin.

Rochester is the first of a series of cities on this photo shoot hoping to capture both the minds of the killer and the victim.

"Many, many, many of the youth that are incarcerated in Rochester have actually been victims to a great deal of violence and trauma in their own lives,"

explained Eileen Hurley, Community Health Outreach.

For Richardson's cousin Rashad, it's about continuing Richardson's dream.

"Lawerence was doing a lot for the community when he was taken away so soon. So, for me, with many other people's stories, and many other people's legacies that i plan to continue. His was also a part of it, said Smith.

The producer of "Vicarious Trauma" expects the project to take about a year to complete.

To find out more about the projecthead to vicarioustrauma.org