ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A sense of desperation to stop extreme youth violence in St. Louis is felt after a 14-year-old boy is dead and a 15-year-old girl is in critical condition within the span of a week.

Given the graphic nature of videos, FOX 2 is not showing them.

“I’ve not seen violence like this since probably the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1990s,” former St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch said.

He is so stunned by the recent violence that he feels the need to speak up, posting the following message to social media:

“After 40 years in law enforcement, the amount of violence we’re seeing in this community even stuns me. Where there’s no certainty of punishment, there’s no deterrent. Uncuff police. Support them. Broken windows enforcement works. I’ve lived it. It’s not just a ‘theory.’”

Kenya Brumfield-Young, assistant professor of criminology at St. Louis University, says the violence points to issues that call for more than just increased police support.

“As young people, when they become hyper-engaged and hyper-emotional, a lot of times they don’t know how to pump the brakes,” she said. “We need to advocate for educational programs that promote conflict resolution, mental health awareness, (and) anger management.”

Tax dollars would fund those kinds of programs, according to Fitch.

“We shouldn’t have to do that but if the family’s not going to do it, who else is going to do it?” he said. “The government (then) becomes the family. The problem is in many cases, the government is dysfunctional. The government doesn’t offer services like a mom or dad offer services.”

Flowers on the curb for 14-year-old Justin Brooks, who was stabbed to death Tuesday, tell everyone it shouldn’t have to be like this, the former chief and university criminologist say.

A juvenile suspect is in custody in relation to the fight in Hazelwood, according to police.

There is no arrest yet for the stabbing in Jennings.