Community fed up with Pompano Beach shootings
FORT LAUDERDALE - On Tuesday afternoon Pompano Beach community leaders spoke out after a Monday shooting took the life of a teenager and injured three others.
The shooting took place in front of a store.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, John Zetrenne, 16, was in front of a business in the 1700 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard with several others when they were approached by several people who started shooting at them.
When deputies arrived they found Zetreene, who had been shot multiple times, on the sidewalk in the 1800 block of MLK Jr. Boulevard. They immediately began life-saving measures. The North Lauderdale teen was taken to Broward Health North where he died.
The sheriff's office said three others; 31-year-old Emmanuel Francois, of Lauderhill, 30-year-old Petenson Nicolas of Pompano Beach, and 21-year-old Elijah Gustuave, also from Pompano Beach, had been driven to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle. They are expected to be OK.
The shooting is a trend that the community of Pompano Beach is tired of seeing.
"One shooting is too much. Two shootings is just way too much. Three shootings is out of hand," said Minister Tim Griffith.
Griffith with Faith in Florida says it's becoming a weekly thing, a kid gunned down on the streets of Pompano Beach.
"A lot of these kids that are being shot know each other. A lot of these kids play ball together," said Griffith.
Griffith hosts a weekly radio show discussing community issues.
This week, the topic is gun violence.
"People are afraid. They're afraid to open their mouths. They're afraid to be seen as being turncoats," said Barry Moss, Pompano Beach District 5 Commissioner.
"It lets us know it really takes a village to raise these children. But where is the village? Where are the villagers? Where have they gone to?" said Gary McCloud, a Pompano Beach Bishop.
Included is District 4 Commissioner Beverly Perkins, where the latest shooting took place.
"Well, the shootings have been going on for a while now in Pompano. And the people in the right places or big places aren't listening to Pompano," said Perkins.
A team of faith leaders will join together Wednesday for a Stop the Violence march, with the goal of creating street warriors to carry out the mission.
"Which will consist of former gang leaders, former shooters, Former killers to be able to do night walks in this community district 4 and district 5, and go back to those hot spots and talk to those guys and tell them hey listen we gotta stop this," said Griffith.
Sheriff's investigators are trying to determine what led to the shooting and those responsible. Anyone with information that can help is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477), online at browardcrimestoppers.org, or dial **TIPS (8477) from any cellphone in the U.S.
