The Baltimore group that steers kids off the streets – however long it takes

It can take time to convince Roca's clients to leave illegal money-making behind. So the organization approaches violence interruption as a long game

This story was originally published by The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in America. Sign up for its newsletters here.

The game of cat and mouse had played out for months on the corners of West Baltimore. Jamal West would pull up in his minivan. Miayan, 18 years old at the time, would run. The 46-year-old West stands at 6'4 and is built like an NFL lineman - no match for the wiry teenager in a footrace. So West would come back in his van the next day. And when Miayan saw the van, he would flee again.