Christie Condemns Gang Violence In MLK Day Speech

PLAINFIELD, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- Speaking at a Martin Luther King Jr. event in Plainfield Monday, Gov. Chris Christie expressed his condolences to the family of a teen gunned down over the weekend.

Shawne Lovely, 16, was shot and taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in critical condition Saturday. He was pronounced dead early Sunday morning.

Christie used his speech at the annual "Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast" at Plainfield High School to lash out at continuing gang-related violence in the city and pledged the state's support to stop it.

"I spoke to the mayor. Myself and the attorney general are prepared to meet with her and the law enforcement leaders here in Plainfield, to try to come up with a solution."

The governor also invoked the teachings of Dr. King, who Christie described as a "man who understood that violence was not a solution to violence."

"The death of any of our citizens does not cure the problems that we have in our society," he said.

Christie blamed the senseless violence on the lack of hope amongst youth and said education was the key to giving them a life worth living.

"Hope is what can transform a family. Hope is what transforms an individual's soul," he said.