Local teens and police got together Saturday as they do every week but this time those in Douglasville's Youth Against Violence Program had a recent tragedy to use as a teachable moment. The group discussed Thursday's shooting at Price Middle School in Atlanta, where a 14-year-old student was shot in the head.

In its sixth year, the Douglasville Police Department's Youth Against Violence Program is a proactive approach to keeping teens out of trouble and helping them make good decisions.

In the attached video, Program Participant Heather Jenkins, 19, explains why she won't get in trouble.

Deputy Police Chief Gary Sparks, a founder of the program, estimates that more than 1,500 teens have been through the course over the six years of the program's existence.

Other Douglasville Patch stories in this series:

 Recent Shooting Used as Teachable Moment for Youth Against Violence Program