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StumbleNeighbors band together, condemn shooting of 8-year-old boy
Police activate task force in northeast Las Vegas neighborhood after weekend shooting
Larissa Garcia, center, 6, gets a hug from her brother, Jose, 13, while listening to community speakers Monday during a “Safe Valley United” event near the corner of Marion Drive and Kell Lane in northeast Las Vegas.
Monday, July 27, 2009 | 10:38 p.m.
Site where boy was shot
A recent act of violence in one northeast Las Vegas neighborhood prompted a swift response from police and neighbors, who gathered Monday night to decry the Saturday shooting of an 8-year-old boy.
Metro Police and many who live in the area of Marion Drive and Kell Lane banded together as part of Safe Valley United, a partnership between police and community leaders designed to spread a message against violence, as well as ways to prevent it.
Pastor Troy Martinez, of the East Vegas Christian Center, is a Safe Valley United team leader. He said the event offers an opportunity to reach out to the community in a time of need.
"It helps to make sure this kind of thing doesn't go unnoticed," Martinez said. "You see we've got the kids out (among the crowd), and you have to imagine that after something like this, they're scared. The parents won't let them come out.
"With every act of violence, we're going to make sure to come out here."
A stray bullet hit the boy as two cars were passing through the intersection, police said. Authorities say the child is in critical but stable condition at University Medical Center.
Antrisha Jackson, who lives nearby, said she came around the corner and saw the boy, shot, lying on the ground.
"It was like a movie," Jackson said. "A child gets caught in the crossfire with two cars shooting at each other."
She said she has lived in the neighborhood for more than four years, and in that time, has heard about and seen many acts of violence. Jackson said she has two young children. Her oldest, a 6-year-old boy, is no longer allowed to play outside.
"(The shooting) affects him as a kid," she said. “You never know what's going to happen (in this neighborhood)."
A crowd of nearby residents congregated to hear the organization's message. In addition to providing testimonials of people who are recovering from addiction problems, the rally featured positive rap music and free food, drinks and hygiene products.
Volunteers distributed anti-drug fliers, as well as baby diapers, shampoo, paper towels and toothpaste.
Josephine Vasquez was one of many parents in attendance who said she is worried about her children. She said the event, which was drawing attention to the neighborhood’s problems, was "probably the best thing they could do."
Vasquez said there have been several homicides during her years as a resident in the neighborhood.
The whole community must come together to stop the violence, beginning with the parents, she said. As a mother of four, one of whom is the same age as the boy who was shot, she said taking notice is long overdue.
Similarly, Ramona Miquirray, who is 17 and lives in the area, said hearing about the shooting "hurt," though she has hopes that events such as the one Monday night will have a positive effect.
"It helps for sure. This is a really good event because a lot of people come out for it," she said. "I feel sad inside (about the shooting) because no one should be dying. No one should be shooting anyone at all."
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please.
nothing's going to change in this area.
The problem is a combination of poverty, poor education, ignorance, and even some stupidity. And that is just on Thumper's part!
But really, until this nation treats all humans as if they matter the population stuck at the bottom will carry anger. Until those at the top become humane it will get worse. Add easy access to guns to this mix and from white racism on down tragedy is inevitable.
Racist comment? Yes.
For every gun-wielding, gang-banging Hispanic low-life living in our city, you have a whole lot more good, upstanding Hispanic people. Look at the pictures above and tell me that these are bad people.
Poverty is more than just a statistical nuisance giving more fortunate people like yourself something to complain about.
Poverty is a terrible disease affecting millions that needs to be treated.
Why are you getting your giggles by telling people to walk through the neighborhood at night? If I had claimed that this is actually a nice safe neighborhood, then your little funny might actually make some sense.
As it stands though, you are actually proving my point. It is unbelievably dangerous in this neighborhood. And some people actually do have to walk through these streets. And not because Thumper dared them to, but because that's where they actually live.
Good people living in a bad neighborhood. I know that sounds far-fetched to you, but it's a reality. The gangbangers are a VERY loud minority.
And, this, ladies and gentleman, is what it has come down to; pointless "rallies" where "community members" make pointless statements about a situation that will only get worse.
I'd be very interested to know how many of the attendees and residents are here legally; I already know the answer, though, since our once great nation has been converted into an international flophouse.
But that's ok-keep 'em coming! It's not as if we have enough problems with some of our own citizens and lawful residents. So, throwing out every single excuse in the history of excuses as to why we can't deport these illegals is a real help. You can see for yourself by taking a quick drive through east Las Vegas (just don't forget to bring your Spanish to English book, since there are no longer any billboards or stores where English is used) how beneficial this policy of letting everyone in the United States has been for everyone's quality of life!
Yes, I know; I'm being mean. And racist! I'm also being reminiscent of what a relatively decent place east Las Vegas used to be before greedy Rockefeller Repubs and power-hungry libs decided to allow an invasion of impoverished illiterates with their third world standards and zero interest in assimillating. And, it's worked out so beautifully, hasn't it?
If you have to clarify whether or not your comments are rascist or reality, they are more than likely rascist.
I don't like illegals. I detest gangbangers. You do yourself a dis-service by saying there are no good people in that part of town. Am I afraid of walking anywhere in Vegas? No. Are there parts I would avoid at night if possible? Yes.
It's the meth that's killing the area. The north east is tweaker central. It's how 'bangers make there money and why you can't chain a bike up in the open.
While branding all Mexican illegals as inherently dangerous and violent criminals is ridiculous, so is blaming the violence on poverty, guns or whites. Being poor does not mean ignorant, lazy, criminal or unhealthy any more than being rich means educated, hard working, law abiding and healthy. Every ethnic group has criminals within it, with many gangs having an ethnic base they operate in and recruit from. And until the host community chooses to work with the police, schools, and churches to aggressively suppress & eliminate the gangs, the violence is bound to continue.
But having said that, I'd have to agree that immigration is out of control. Secure the borders & ports of entry, enforce e-verify & Real ID -- severely punishing employers who fail to use them, require local law enforcement to to coordinate with ICE on all felony arrests, and deport any illegal convicted of a felony. Those who remain would have 90 days to register for a provisional work permit good for three years, provided they aren't convicted of any felonies. Any who fail to register would be deported (when found) unless there were clearly extunating circumstances. Government support, be it social services, education, or medical, would require a valid ID. Renewal of the work permit or obtaining a resident visa would be contingent on no felony convictions, ability to communicate in english, and family relationships (status of parents, children, siblings, spouse). Main goals of the program would be to eliminate the "carrots" of employment & social services that attract illegals, get rid of the "bad apples" already here, and assimilate the rest as quickly as time allows (my assumption is that by bringing them out of the shadows, assimilation will be easier & quicker). And the majority will assimilate within a generation or two -- that's one thing America is still good at (provided the so called multi-culturalists don't throw up racial separation roadblocks).
I applaud you NLV-Indep13 on a well-thought-out viewpoint regarding immigration. I don't necessarily agree with your ideas, but I have great respect for them. It is refreshing to hear an argument against amnesty that doesn't revolve around comments such as, "The filthy Mexicans are taking over" or "Send all these third-world criminal parasites back to the crapper they came from."
NLV-Indep13,
Nicely stated. Unfortunately, in these hard economic times, people are NOT grateful for what they have and would rather step on the neck of someone less fortunate. There are bad apples in EVERY race on this earth, luckily, there is a good apple for every bad apple.
Don't generalize, because it does make you read ignorant AND racist.
But if you're comfortable with that perception, carry on.