Fears Grow Over L.A. Gang Wars

Recent Surge In Gang-Related Violence Spurs Mayor To Appoint "Gang Czar"

(CBS)  It was an emotional farewell to a stand-out high school football star killed in broad daylight when he had no answer to the dreaded question: "What gang are you from?"

Sgt. Anita Shaw returned from her second tour in Iraq to bury her 17-year-old son, Jamiel, who was never involved in a gang.

"I really don't see a difference, because to me, gangs are nothing but terrorism," Shaw said.

Even in gang-hardened L.A., Jamiel's death is shocking - and it is just one in a string of recent shootings of innocent children, reports Sandra Hughes.

Thirteen-year-old Anthony Escobar was shot and killed picking lemons for dinner. "I tried to pick him up, and I was just yelling for help," his uncle, John Aguilar, said.

Six-year-old Lavareay Elzy is in critical condition - shot in the head while riding in his family's SUV. And five kids were wounded in a gang shootout at a bus stop.

"Our children are being shot down every damn day!" one mother said.

Officials are trying to calm fears that black and Latino gang wars are heating up - but admit that with 80,000 gang members in the city, the police need help.

"You can't just arrest your way out of this problem," Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa said. "We've got to support families. We've got to mentor kids."

To tackle the problem, the mayor appointed the city's first so-called Gang Czar - and his choice is somewhat surprising.

A soft-spoken, white Evangelical minister named Jeff Carr.

"Every single kid ought to know somebody believes in them," said Carr. "They think they can make it. I'm going to work my tail off to make sure that happens in this city."

Before this job, Carr built a mentoring center next to his church, where kids earn credits for doing homework, get tutored and learn computer skills.

Aspiring musician Mark Lopez knows where he'd be without this center.

"I don't want to be corny, but I'd be dead," Lopez said.

Carr's goal? More places for L.A.'s kids, and fewer innocent victims.

[libsrweak]

OH HELL JUST BLAME THE GUN!

taser a criminal and the liberals are up at arms

little kids gets killed..they dont care..TOO MUCH WORK

[red_chowchow]

The solution of the Los Angelos Gang wars could very well be solved by our own fighters here at home. There are professional boxers all over the United States that could go in and say "Stop killing innocent children and people, stop being cowards and shotting people and get into "OUR" ring! Each could fight it out like a MAN rather than killing people with guns especially innocent children. KIlling children is for cowards, Guns are for "punks"!

George Foreman lives in California and also James Toney lives and trains there. They are among others are professiona fighters that are ICONS and they need to get on the TV screens and tell these gangs that they NEED to come to the gym and get in the ring, SEttle things like a "man" NOT like a cowards!!!!!!!!!!!!! An ad campaign nationally would help to tell these kids that they don''t need to be PUNKS by using guns and killing innocent children. HAVE them to stand up in the ring and take on someone who is equal!!!!!! IF they want to shoot guns THEN join the army!!!!!!!!!!

GIve them a choice to fight it out in the boxing ring OR go to WAR IN Iraq to shoot and kill people. This would truly be a good solution. Even martial arts people use their hands NOT guns!!!!!!!! GUNS are for punks and cowards by killing innocent children and people!!!!!!!! THIS is terrorism in OUR own soil that WE NEED to be fighting!!!!!!!!! NOT overseas!!!

[tomtomasters]

Teach the bad about gun ownership, and not buying or owning them would send the right message. Teach about nonviolence, and outlawing guns and closing gun shops, and outlets that sell guns, would solve the problem. China has over 1 billion more people than the USA and they ban guns, and they have no where near the crimes the US commits. America is wrong on guns, and military defense. You people have gone over the edge in being sane about living right. That''s why you suffer in America. Tomorrow will just be another killing routine, until you nimwits face reality, and start supporting nonviolence and being hero''s instead of cowards behind a gun.

[kenziedoo45]

Jeff;
You probably do not remember me but I used to attend Richland Nazarene Church. We had a son in the Youth Group & you went on a getaway to Ft. Stephens and I did the cooking. I was impressed by you then and have prayed for you and your sweet wife over the years. Just wanted you to know that I will pray even more often for you now. God has certainly used you in a wonderful way.
Love & Prayers,
Carol Carlson

[kenziedoo45]

Jeff;
You probably do not remember me but I used to attend Richland Nazarene Church. We had a son in the Youth Group & you went on a getaway to Ft. Stephens and I did the cooking. I was impressed by you then and have prayed for you and your sweet wife over the years. Just wanted you to know that I will pray even more often for you now. God has certainly used you in a wonderful way.
Love & Prayers,
Carol Carlson

[kenziedoo45]

Jeff;
You probably do not remember me but I used to attend Richland Nazarene Church. We had a son in the Youth Group & you went on a getaway to Ft. Stephens and I did the cooking. I was impressed by you then and have prayed for you and your sweet wife over the years. Just wanted you to know that I will pray even more often for you now. God has certainly used you in a wonderful way.
Love & Prayers,
Carol C

[kenziedoo45]

Jeff;
You probably do not remember me but I used to attend Richland Nazarene Church. We had a son in the Youth Group & you went on a getaway to Ft. Stephens and I did the cooking. I was impressed by you then and have prayed for you and your sweet wife over the years. Just wanted you to know that I will pray even more often for you now. God has certainly used you in a wonderful way.
Love & Prayers,
Carol C

[kenziedoo45]

Jeff;
You probably do not remember me but I used to attend Richland Nazarene Church. We had a son in the Youth Group & you went on a getaway to Ft. Stephens and I did the cooking. I was impressed by you then and have prayed for you and your sweet wife over the years. Just wanted you to know that I will pray even more often for you now. God has certainly used you in a wonderful way.
Love & Prayers,
Carol C