Teenage Crime Rising
By: Jessica James
Updated: May 14, 2007
City leaders say they're fed up and tired of the headlines. Especially when it involves our young. The police rage stems from this weekend's brutal killing. Where two teens were shot in this McDonalds parking lot. Killing 16 year old Terrance Winn. Mayor Cedric Glover says, "It was just simply an overwhelming tragic situation. To be so young, so bright, and so promising, and to come from such a wonderful family."But police say teens are not always the victims. Crime reports show there's a rise in the number of killers taking lives and shooting guns before they can even drive. You might remember back in February, when three teenagers shot and killed a woman, then left her body on Jewella Ave.
One of her killers was only 15 years old. And in January, the owner of Goodie's Beauty Supply store was killed during a robbery. The killer? Another 15 year old. So why are these young people turning to murder at such young ages? SPD Chief Mike VanSant says it could be peer pressure, "These kids cannot let other people influence them and make wrong decisions."Whatever the cause is...Mayor Glover says there's an answer. "Make sure you say to your child they don't have to be involved. They don't have to be the one with the gun in their hand."
