Less than 15 minutes after an anti-gun violence rally had wrapped up in Canarsie Friday night, a 57-year-old woman was shot in the leg outside of a convenience store at E. 81st Street and Flatlands Avenue.

Two hours later at the same cross section, police observed the sound of a gunshot inside of a corner store, and a man fleeing from the building.

When officers followed the man and commanded him to stop, police say he pointed a weapon at them, prompting four officers to open fire and leaving the man in critical condition.

Advocates from The Flossy, Man Up Inc. and other groups that work to combat gun violence and work with youth in the community say the shootings highlight a need for more resources in the area, something they had hoped to highlight prior to the bloodshed.

The groups hosted a youth stop-the-violence basketball tournament Saturday at I.S. 068 Isaac Bildersee, just around the corner from the shootings. While the event had been scheduled prior to the two shootings, founders say the community cannot afford to wait to act on gun violence.

"How much more of a sign do you need? Thank God we are not talking about a funeral…But are we going to wait for that to happen for us to get the investments that we need," said The Flossy founder Jibreel Jalloh.

He says the shootings have an impact on the youth, and make them feel unsafe in their neighborhoods. The Flossy received $1.6 million in city funds to help violence intervention efforts in partnership with Man Up Inc. It is now calling for a city center for those programs to operate from and with safety and programming for children.

"When we look at safe and thriving communities – they have these spaces, and the kids here deserve this investment,” said Jalloh.