Post by CCADP on Aug 30, 2005 5:45:27 GMT -5
Youth gangs a growing concern
Recent Valley shootings linked to groups, and law enforcement has had enough.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
By JAMES S. YOUNG
The Express-Times
BETHLEHEM -- Walking the streets of this city's South Side into the predawn hours Monday, Northampton County's top law enforcement official noticed a problem.
Teenage "thugs" were roaming the streets at 3 a.m. as if it were daylight, causing commotion, he said. Seeing that while completing two murder investigations linked to gangs convinced District Attorney John Morganelli something must be done.
"We have a cultural theme and that is young thugs who are wannabe criminals," Morganelli said. "They carry guns. They want to solve disputes on their own without police. They don't have jobs. They're out there doing robberies and drug dealing to sustain themselves."
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A new strategy to combat escalating gang violence "before anybody else gets killed" will be announced in the next few weeks, Morganelli said during a Monday afternoon news conference.
Morganelli and Bethlehem police had just announced the arrest of Omar Chaparro, 18, and Matthew G. Jenkins, 19, in Sunday's murder of city grocer Concepcion Martinez, 50. When Jenkins entered his getaway car, he told Chaparro, "I shot, I busted a head, word on big B," according to police.
"Big B" represents the Bloods gang, which Jenkins was affiliated with, said Bethlehem police Lt. Stuart Bedics.
Also Monday, Morganelli and Easton police announced the arrest of Michael A. Staton, 18, who police say opened fire on a group standing on a porch at 1011 Northampton St., Easton, on Aug. 15, fatally wounding Roy Jenkins, 17. Roy Jenkins' mother has said her son hung out with people who are in gangs but was not in one himself.
Roy Jenkins and Matthew Jenkins are not related, police said.
Although Matthew Jenkins was affiliated with the Bloods, the attack on Martinez's store appeared to be random, Bedics said.
"I really do think people are outraged when they see this kind of behavior toward decent, hardworking people," said Bethlehem police Commissioner Francis Donchez.
Morganelli and Donchez said gun-related incidents have noticeably climbed in recent months, in part due to gangs.
"It used to be a rare call to go out for gunshots," Morganelli said. "Now, it's not."
Just like early Sunday morning, when Bethlehem police responded to a call for four cars shot with bullets in the 600 and 700 blocks of Fiot Avenue. Police said shell casings and a ringing cell phone were found on the scene. On that phone, officers found pictures of teenagers waving a pistol and flashing a "Five Points gang sign," police said. The shootings are still being investigated.
Morganelli also attributed gang violence to the Jan. 10, 2004, murder of Eugene Martinez Jr., 32, at Saucon Park in Bethlehem. Martinez, who is not related to Concepcion Martinez, and suspect Neftali Colon, 19, were both affiliated with the Latin Kings, court records say.
Morganelli said the "thugs" have nothing to occupy their time and simply build a violent mentality to commit crimes. Bedics said Matthew Jenkins has been the focus of several recent investigations, including an ice cream store robbery and a shooting Saturday night.
Morganelli said Staton, Chaparro and Matthew Jenkins all face a life sentence, and possibly the death penalty, if convicted.
( Reporter James S. Young can be reached at 610-867-5000 or by e-mail at jyoung@express-times.com.
Recent Valley shootings linked to groups, and law enforcement has had enough.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
By JAMES S. YOUNG
The Express-Times
BETHLEHEM -- Walking the streets of this city's South Side into the predawn hours Monday, Northampton County's top law enforcement official noticed a problem.
Teenage "thugs" were roaming the streets at 3 a.m. as if it were daylight, causing commotion, he said. Seeing that while completing two murder investigations linked to gangs convinced District Attorney John Morganelli something must be done.
"We have a cultural theme and that is young thugs who are wannabe criminals," Morganelli said. "They carry guns. They want to solve disputes on their own without police. They don't have jobs. They're out there doing robberies and drug dealing to sustain themselves."
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A new strategy to combat escalating gang violence "before anybody else gets killed" will be announced in the next few weeks, Morganelli said during a Monday afternoon news conference.
Morganelli and Bethlehem police had just announced the arrest of Omar Chaparro, 18, and Matthew G. Jenkins, 19, in Sunday's murder of city grocer Concepcion Martinez, 50. When Jenkins entered his getaway car, he told Chaparro, "I shot, I busted a head, word on big B," according to police.
"Big B" represents the Bloods gang, which Jenkins was affiliated with, said Bethlehem police Lt. Stuart Bedics.
Also Monday, Morganelli and Easton police announced the arrest of Michael A. Staton, 18, who police say opened fire on a group standing on a porch at 1011 Northampton St., Easton, on Aug. 15, fatally wounding Roy Jenkins, 17. Roy Jenkins' mother has said her son hung out with people who are in gangs but was not in one himself.
Roy Jenkins and Matthew Jenkins are not related, police said.
Although Matthew Jenkins was affiliated with the Bloods, the attack on Martinez's store appeared to be random, Bedics said.
"I really do think people are outraged when they see this kind of behavior toward decent, hardworking people," said Bethlehem police Commissioner Francis Donchez.
Morganelli and Donchez said gun-related incidents have noticeably climbed in recent months, in part due to gangs.
"It used to be a rare call to go out for gunshots," Morganelli said. "Now, it's not."
Just like early Sunday morning, when Bethlehem police responded to a call for four cars shot with bullets in the 600 and 700 blocks of Fiot Avenue. Police said shell casings and a ringing cell phone were found on the scene. On that phone, officers found pictures of teenagers waving a pistol and flashing a "Five Points gang sign," police said. The shootings are still being investigated.
Morganelli also attributed gang violence to the Jan. 10, 2004, murder of Eugene Martinez Jr., 32, at Saucon Park in Bethlehem. Martinez, who is not related to Concepcion Martinez, and suspect Neftali Colon, 19, were both affiliated with the Latin Kings, court records say.
Morganelli said the "thugs" have nothing to occupy their time and simply build a violent mentality to commit crimes. Bedics said Matthew Jenkins has been the focus of several recent investigations, including an ice cream store robbery and a shooting Saturday night.
Morganelli said Staton, Chaparro and Matthew Jenkins all face a life sentence, and possibly the death penalty, if convicted.
( Reporter James S. Young can be reached at 610-867-5000 or by e-mail at jyoung@express-times.com.