Sunday, April 24, 2005

A Clipping

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gang Tensions Increase
by Randall Sumner

A recent string of vicious murders in the metropolitan area has caused an increase in local gang tensions, according to the Atlanta police department. On the 8th of March, Jamal Weston, 17, of the Conservative Vice Lords was found dead of head trauma. One week later, Harrison Kendlebrook (22), a member of the North Boys, was found dead of head trauma. Three days later, on the 18th of March, the body of 19 year old Raphael Gomez, associated with the Latin Kings, was found. Autopsy showed that he was the first victim of this same killer. The 26th of March another victim, Miguel Rodriguez, 18, who was a known enforcer for the Vato Loco, was found with a similar wound.
All four of the gangs involved, as well as the gangs they are allied with, have been stepping up arms acquisition and patrols of their territories, according to Department sources. The cause of death is officially listed as "head trauma"; however, witness accounts state that all of the victims had been shot, execution style.
No suspects are in custody and no motive has been given as yet. The current theory, according to sources, is that the first two killings were traditional gang murders and that the second pair were retaliatory in nature. What ever the case, if the situation is not resolved soon then a new wave of gang violence is sure to follow.