Diane Dixon mostly sat and listened to others speak at Saturday’s statewide gang summit at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

But when someone passed a microphone to her, everyone heard what she had to say.

Her 12-year-old daughter, Courtney, was one of two youths shot and killed in August, unwitting victims of youth violence.

“She was just a lovely child. I don’t understand why anybody would do that to her,” Dixon said. “I just miss her dearly.”

She then sat down, and briefly wept.

About 300 community and law enforcement leaders from across the state discussed ideas to prevent more kids from ending up like Courtney.

But icy weather Saturday cut short the summit. Three hours to hold what was scheduled to be a six-hour event was enough time to give community and law enforcement leaders a chance to meet in groups, discuss gang legislation and share ideas to stop youth violence.

It was an opportunity to see and follow what others around the state were doing, said Greg Moody, coordinator at the Canal Street Recreation Center in Myrtle Beach.

His job is to keep youths away from gang culture.

“I think our youth are doing fairly well,” he said. “We’re keeping our fingers on them.”

Most of the people who attended Saturday’s meeting came from the Midlands. A few came from coastal areas.

Attendance was less than the 544 who had registered by Friday. Still, Columbia Mayor Bob Coble was hopeful the gang summit would become an annual event.

Columbia Police Chief Dean Crisp moderated a discussion on law enforcement methods for tracking gangs. Some said more agencies should work with the Department of Corrections and share information on gang members already in prison.

The department already is identifying gang members, said Eddie O’Cain of the prison system.

“We have to identify them from day one,” he said.

The idea for a statewide gang summit came from Preston Winkler, executive director of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council. Coble endorsed the proposal last month after Gov. Mark Sanford turned down a request to hold one.

The format of the summit mimicked one held in October that addressed youth violence in Columbia. That gathering stemmed from the shooting deaths of three youths in less than a two-month period.

At then end of Saturday’s summit, Coble received a signed pledge from youths to end violence and act as role models for younger children.

He said he planned to hang it in City Hall and have other youths sign it.

Reach Gonzales at (803) 771-8405 or jgonzales@thestate.com.