CLEVELAND -- Cleveland police officials are expressing strong concern about escalating gun violence in the city, and police are calling on residents to help them get violent criminals off the streets.

The areas of concern are the St. Clair-Superior, Glenville and Hough neighborhoods.

Overall, crime in Cleveland has been going down for a couple of years. But in the first four months of the year, violent crime is up, and the number of guns used in those crimes is rising, too.

From execution-style shootings on East 12th Street that left one dead and one critically wounded, to a West 89th Street attack that left two women and three children dead, it's already been a violent year in Cleveland.

Since January, killings in Cleveland are up 38 percent, and fatal shootings jumped 16 percent. The number of assaults is also on the rise, up 10 percent.

Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath said police are targeting criminals and their guns, but with summer approaching he is concerned, especially when bullets start spraying neighborhoods.

On Sunday morning, men in two cars fired dozens of high-powered rounds at each other on the streets of Cleveland.

"These young individuals, young adults, out there are being more reckless on how they use firearms, and that concerns me," said McGrath.

The chief is making a direct appeal to neighbors to take back their streets and turn in criminals carrying or using guns.

"Until the total community steps out, steps forward, and says, 'Hey, listen. Gun violence is unacceptable,' we're going to keep going through these trends," said McGrath.

Police said they'll get more aggressive on the judicial side as well. McGrath said he wants detectives in the courtrooms, asking judges to set higher bonds to keep suspects who use guns behind bars.

To find crime and turn in a criminal, call Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463.