Memphis, TN Neighbors pray for children in line of fire

The Commercial Appeal ^ | 6/3/02 | Amos Maki

[GailA]

Neighbors pray for children in line of fire By Amos Maki maki@gomemphis.com June 3, 2002

A day after another Memphis child was caught in the middle of a gunfight, religious and law enforcement officials on Sunday renewed their commitments to fight crime and protect children.

Members of Shiloh Baptist Church at 1670 Gaither went ahead with their youth day activities just a half-block from where 10-year-old Ashley Smith was shot in the head.

Her condition was upgraded to critical, a Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center spokesman said Sunday.

"It's a sad thing that it has come to the reckless disregard for life," said Kimlynn Grice, 38, a member of the church. "These shootings are getting out of hand." "We are facing a problem of street terror," said Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons. "We are seeing open gang warfare on the streets."

Rev. Herbert E. Davenport Jr., pastor at Shiloh, said God's work must continue even in the face of death. "These gangsters are shooting the children, not each other," said Davenport. "I'm a preacher from the hood. I know tragedies happen, but God's work must go on."

Youth members of the church had gathered Saturday to rehearse Sunday's program when the shooting started.

"We went in and locked the doors when we heard the shots so none of the children would be hurt," said Jacqueline Kimbro, 38, a member of the church.

Ashley was sitting in the back seat of a white Ford Taurus at 1649 Gaither while her mother ran inside to use the telephone, police said.

Three men in a gold- or champagne-colored 1995 four-door Cadillac opened fire before fleeing the scene, said Lt. Walter Norris.

He said the police have no suspects.

Norris said he did not how many shots were fired from the car or if anyone returned fire.

He did say he knew who the intended victim was but that he was unable to release that information.

The shooting of Ashley came one week after 9-year-old Marrqutte Mason was killed by a bullet intended for a gang member. Marrqutte had been on his way to a block party in Orange Mound.

Police charged Brian Keith Young, 24, with first-degree murder in that killing.

Another 10-year-old, Damien Woodard, was killed April 14 by gunfire on a South Memphis apartment complex playground.

Herman A. Parham, 17, Rodricus A. Johnson, 18, and Patrick J. Brown, 20, were charged with first-degree murder in Damien's death.

Patrick Parham, 18, and Jeremy Parham, 19, were charged with facilitation to commit first-degree murder. For the years 1985 to 1999 - the last for which data are available - the percentage of Memphis murder victims who were younger than 14 ranged from 1.3 percentin 1986 to 5.3 in 1988, according to the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Over the same period in Nashville, the figure ranged from zero in 1986 to 12.1 percent in 1999.

Gibbons said the death penalty will be "on the table" in Marrqutte's and Damien's cases.

"We will look at each case individually and make our decision based on the facts of each case," said Gibbons.

"No final decision has been made."

Gibbons and U.S. Atty. Terry Harris announced in March a plan to deter violent crime with a crackdown on gun-carrying criminals using existing firearm laws.

The plan is modeled after Project Exile, a five-year-old crackdown in Richmond, Va., credited with reducing that city's crime rate.

Defendants with two or more prior felony convictions for violent and/or drug-related crimes will face federal prosecution.

In other gun-related cases, defendants will be offered what Gibbons described as a "take it or leave it deal" to plead guilty to state firearms charges and accept a "substantial" state prison term or face federal charges.

He said the plan "virtually guarantees" gun-toting criminals will serve time.

"The days of getting probation are over," said Gibbons.

He said he was struck by Young's statement to detectives after he was charged with Marrqutte's death.

Homicide Lt. Mickey Williams said Young asked when he would be getting out of jail.

"It is very disturbing to see this happening," said Gibbons. " I want these guys to be worrying about their jail time, not when will they be able to get out."

He also said greater collaboration with the faith community is needed to combat the problem.

In January 2001, law enforcement officials and religious leaders in Frayser teamed up for "Operation Courage" to fight gang violence there.

Gibbons said he would like to see the program extended across the city.

"We need to make all children our business," said Kimbro. "We don't want to lose any more kids."

- Amos Maki: 529-2322

[GailA]

This is the third child shot in just a few weeks by these waring gangs. Two innocent boys 9 and 10 were murdered. It is sickening.

King willie herenton mayor of Memphis sits on his hands and orders COMMISSION after Commission to STUDY crime in Memphis. Crimes are reclassified so as to reflect lower crime rates. Rape has become assault in many cases. Police no longer respond to home burglaries if NO violence is committed.