Gangs in Atlanta
by Gangs have gotten so bad in Atlanta that the District Attorney’s office has created a special gang unit to track down the miscreants.
Gangs had gotten so prevalent in Atlanta that in 2007 the District Attorney’s office created a official gang unit of one lawyer and an investigator. All due to a violent street gang known by the name of the International Robbing Crew (IRC). They were then able to identify 12 members of the gang who were responsible for 11 murders. A 60 count indictment was made and was the first under the District Attorney’s Georgia Gang Statute. All the initial group of gang members who were prosecuted were convicted of murder. The judge sentenced them to life plus 70 years.
This year another lawyer and legal assistant has been added to the gang unit. They are now prosecuting more than 30 cases involving 71 defendants. District attorney Paul L. Howard Jr. says the ages of these gang members are particularly disturbing. Earlier this year the murder of a 17 year old boy, his dog,and the attempted murder of his mother was carried out by a 14 year old middle school gang member of a group who call themselves Nine Trey Bloods.
There have been 17 gang murders this year in Fulton county alone, and many more in other jurisdictions. Atlanta police have identified more than 100 active gangs. Among them, Riverside and Westside Locos, 30 Deep, Gangsta Disciples, IRC, Sur 13, and Nine Trey Bloods. Some members have come from New York, California, New Orleans, and New Jersey.
The District Attorney said that because of an incident that occurred a few years ago when he was attending a conference in San Diego, he made a promise to himself that he would do his best to ensure that no visitor or resident of Fulton county felt fearful due to criminal gangs in the community. The incident in San Diego the District Attorney referred to was, an unsuspecting man went into a neighborhood wearing the wrong colors. The penalty for this man’s mistake was a brutal death by teenagers of a rival gang.
Atlanta is not home to all criminal gangs. They have spread out all over the country. We have to ask ourselves, why do our youngsters turn to gangs and criminal activity. Can’t we supervise and point them in the right direction? Why don’t we know exactly where our kids are and what they are doing? I raised my kids some years ago but I can’t imagine not knowing where they were, who they were with, and what they were doing. My grandchildren were and are being raised the same way. We can’t use the excuse that both parents work. I worked, too. I don’t know what has happened but we had better get a handle on it.
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Post CommentElizabeth Abbott
On July 16, 2009 at 7:23 am
This is a good article Ruby. The gangs are awful!
Duff D Moss
On July 16, 2009 at 7:28 am
It’s frightening indeed, and I think you have it Ruby – too many parents don’t know where their kids are and what they are doing. Peer group pressure can be hard to resist for kids – and deadly when it involves a gang.
N. Lloyd Andrews
On July 16, 2009 at 7:32 am
The unfortunate answer to your question:”Why do our youngsters turn to gangs and criminal activity.”, is that many of these kids grow up with gangster parents. Many grow up in violent homes and turn to the gangs as surrogate “families”.
A lot of these people just don’t know any other life.It’s sad, but true.
Darla Cooke
On July 16, 2009 at 7:42 am
It’s true, a lot of parents have no idea where their kids are or what they’re up to. My neighbor lets their kids run wild and the oldest one stays in trouble constantly. He’s 15 years old right now and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up in prison once he gets his drivers license. He’s already gotten throw out of the local High School for fighting and hitting a couple of teachers.
Jenny Heart
On July 16, 2009 at 7:47 am
People better start supporting youth groups and start getting involved. Gangs start out because boys have nothing constructive to do. I agree with you.
Moses Ingram
On July 16, 2009 at 8:26 am
Good article, but a very sad situation.
Sheila M
On July 16, 2009 at 10:48 am
It’s sad what the world has turned to ~ great article Ruby
CHAN LEE PENG
On July 16, 2009 at 11:45 am
This is sad. Our society should keep an eye on this crime. Have my liked it. Thanks.
ken bultman
On July 16, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Good article. Timely. My adopted home town is small in comparison but has three organized gangs in operation. Keeps police hopping.
Lostash
On July 16, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Gangs have become widespread over here too. Becoming a real concern to everyone.
George W Whitehead
On July 16, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Good article, Ruby. Lostash is absolutely correct, it is rife now in the UK. At least they get punished in the US. Over here an adult is unlucky if he gets more than fifteen years for murder and a sub-sixteen year old youth would possibly get half of that.
Tanya Wallace
On July 16, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Excellent article Ruby.Its disgusting to think that a mere child could commit a horrendous crime such as that.As always a very thought provoking,well written article that forces discussion about topics that are not touched on nearly enough!
NA Staffieri
On July 16, 2009 at 7:27 pm
And then there’s Camden NJ.
Look at the positve side of things. It created two new jobs this year in Atlanta.
Daisy Peasblossom
On July 16, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Good point about knowing where your kids are. As a single parent, I did some fancy juggling to keep mine relatively supervised. Now, my daughter’s house seems to be the grand nexus for her neighborhood. She says that more than once extra children have shown up to play outside whom she has never seen before. I can’t imagine letting my children go to any home where I had not met the parents.
PR Mace
On July 16, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Excellent article, Ruby. We also have a gang problem. I really don’t understand gangs.
Inna Tysoe
On July 16, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Good article.
Inna
RS Wing
On July 18, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Jounalistic style article. Very well done Ruby. What are they killing each other over?, and the unfortunate innocent bystander that just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The ever present violence that permeates within our society these days is scary. Kids! In my day we might break out a fist or two, but this violence and drug related killings are just to overwhelming. Imagine just in twenty years where we will all be at, with this nightmare? It seems to increase as we evolve. The root of the problem might be what Duff’s point is, Where are your Kids, where is the parenting. Scary stuff. Great article on a horrible and sad reality.
Nikita K
On July 20, 2009 at 5:05 am
Gangs are present even in London and I think the frequency of the stabbings that have been going on have resulted in the news not notifying us or something. It’s shameful to think that people would want to get involved with something like this because even I did a cover on London’s stabbings and the pain that it causes the victims’ families is really terrible. Good article.
Butterfly Musings
On July 21, 2009 at 2:44 pm
a totally excellent article!
sagidt sanchez
On September 16, 2009 at 9:57 pm
u can never stop gangs u take one out 10 are jumping in theres nothing yall can do they have to learn from ther downs if they make it alive i know that…..i did time and i learn to survive..laterz ……mr klown….leader of south side rascal gang in marietta g.a a.t.l s.s.r. taking over one leaders gets out another comes in thats just how life works……