It is past time for accountability regarding violent acts that are taking place in our community. The violence is not restricted to Magee, it is county wide, and if we do not act aggressively it will become too late.
The internet was ablaze last Friday about a shooting that occurred in one of Magee’s up-town neighborhoods.
On Sunday, Nov. 7, shots were fired at East Gate Manor and Hillside Apartments. A smiling young person with braces on her teeth, 24-year-old Daisha Williams, was arrested.
Then last Friday, Nov. 12, Magee Police responded to more gun fire in the same vicinity. This time there was a victim. Charles Ryan Gauthier was shot in a vehicle at the intersection of First Street N.W. and Fifth Avenue N.W.
In this case police say the shooter was Arturio Bell and the driver was Amanda Mason. The shooting occurred at the Azelea Apartments.
Gauthier was taken to Magee General Hospital and transferred to University Medical Center.
By Saturday morning rumors were calling the incident a racially motivated shooting between whites and blacks. The next rumor to make the rounds was that it was a gang related hit. Too much television violence and too many wanna-be gangsters.
Here, though, is the crux of this situation. If we do not act swiftly and hold offenders accountable, Magee is going to be just like a small Jackson. Gun fire is being reported all over town all the time.
The problem is not restricted to Magee. Real hate crimes are going on in the county. Incidentally, Friday’s situation was also reported as a hate crime.
As Barney Fife said, “Nip it in the bud” and that would put a stop to this kind of behavior. Summer before last a young man lost his life near Boswell in what was described as a drug related incident.
If we want this situation rectified all we have to do is get our elected officials to have law enforcement crack down on our community and make it more difficult for these activities to occur.
The best way is to bring in extra help and start with community-wide roadblocks. Sure, it is inconvenient for innocent drivers, but would you rather have folks running around shooting guns and playing gangsters? If it is uncomfortable enough these undesirables will find elsewhere to create havoc and mischief.
A crackdown will be unpopular and Little Johnnie will get into trouble, but wouldn’t you rather have him in lock up than be stretched out on a marble slab?
It is time to take this seriously and make the consequences serious. When misinformation gets to circulating and no consequences are provided for offenders, there is no telling what may happen next.
