Drive-by shootings escalate with gang graffiti in Elkhart

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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A recent drive-by shooting left bullet holes in cars and houses in one Elkhart neighborhood

A recent drive-by shooting left bullet holes in cars and houses in one Elkhart neighborhood. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

ELKHART — Throughout the last couple months, WSBT News has told you about an increase in gang graffiti in Elkhart. Now, it looks like it may be escalating into something much more serious — drive-by shootings. There have been three in the last five days.

“There were three shots on Monday and then about six or seven on Tuesday,” one neighbor told WSBT News about what she’s being hearing in the 2400 block of Frances Avenue — bullets striking the home and a car.

“It’s scary because somebody is going to get hurt,” she said. “A lot of the houses look alike in this area, so it’s like what if they get the wrong house, so that's our biggest concern. So I have two young boys and they stay in the front rooms."

“There was a suspect, maybe possibly involved in gangs,” Cochran said. “There was mention made that possibly the folks involved in the Frances incident were maybe possibly from Goshen."

Another drive-by shooting last week took place at a home on Aspenwald.

In that case a 19-year-old woman was shot while standing on the porch, but did not sustain life threatening injuries. She says she heard nine shots.

Two of those bullets hit parked cars.

“It does concern me a lot,” said one neighbor. “It just worries me and a lot of these gangs that are together just need to quit, put a stop to it."

In both neighborhoods, police have noticed an increase in gang graffiti.

“There's no doubt that you have opposing, rival gangs spraying it around the area, and you also have them living around the area,” Cochran said.

Police say they don't think the separate shootings are related.

Tuesday, Aug 19 at 10:44 PM Deanna wrote ...

I can't believe I am raising my children in this town, where gangs run rampant and spray their names everywhere. The police say they can't find the leaders of these gangs so they don't know what to do now. How about arrest the little pipsqeake followers so the leaders don't have anymore gophers to send shooting up our neighborhoods. If the people who are supposed to protect us don't do anything, we'd be little better than a gang infested city. Oh wait...

Thursday, Jul 17 at 10:52 AM RicoLaw wrote ...

Authorities found that while they could put violent gang leaders behind bars, they continued to influence crimes on the outside. That's when federal officials decided to use the RICO statute, typically used to fight organized crime, to combat gangs. In the first case of its kind in Utah, the KMD RICO case not only resulted in the conviction of Smith but also the guilty pleas of nine other KMD gang members. "KMD has not made a resurgence on the street that I'm aware of," McKelvie said.

Wednesday, Jul 2 at 1:09 PM Anonymous wrote ...

It's happened 4 or 4 times within the past week at the Elkhart Welfare dept. Gang symbols of 3 major Mexican/South American gangs from LA.

Monday, Jun 16 at 8:52 PM NECKOFTHEWOODS wrote ...

It's happening again. Gunshots tonight!

Sunday, Apr 13 at 7:34 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Something needs to be done before someone gets seriously hurt. It does'nt matter who does it as long as they catch them and make them pay.

Saturday, Apr 12 at 9:55 PM E wrote ...

This is a job for the police and Im Hispanic and believe that we need to be fair and if and illegal does this kind of things then yes.. deport them!! the problem is that citizens cant get deported so they get PROVATION instead and they just come right back out and do it again! the local Police need to do their JOB

Saturday, Apr 12 at 8:42 PM proactive approach wrote ...

Make a change - Put about 6 speed bumps so the cars dont fly by so fast on that street on Frances Ave-

Friday, Apr 11 at 9:35 PM Howard wrote ...

Looks like your street department trained Mayor has the city in a bit of a mess. Good call on that vote.

Friday, Apr 11 at 8:08 PM Anonymous wrote ...

WHY IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG IT AUTOMATICALLY HAS TO BE AN ILLEGALS FAULT? SOME OF THEM DONT EVEN MESS WITH ANYONE. THEY ARE BEING BLAMED FOR STUFF THEY DONT EVEN HAVE AN IDEA IS GOING ON. IF YOU ARE SAYING THAT HISPANICS ARE ALL GANG MEMBERS THEN ALL YOU ARE DOING IS PUTTING A LABEL ON PEOPLE. WHERE I LIVE THERE ARE BLACK GANG MEMBERS AND WHITE GANG MEMBERS BUT YOU DONT SEE ME PUTTING A LABEL ON THEM BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN. I AM A MEXICAN AND I AM NOT IN A GANG NOR WOULD I EVER BE.

Friday, Apr 11 at 4:10 PM Luis Borges wrote ...

Well, if you have a low IQ, if you're learning disabled, and you didn't have real parents, then you end up being destructive. One or two sociopaths are followed by a bunch of kids who are weak minded and need a strong leader in their lives...

Friday, Apr 11 at 2:57 PM Anonymous wrote ...

exhoosier, that sounds a little made up. Who did what study?

Friday, Apr 11 at 1:02 PM Bill wrote ...

Oh, I get it, it's the fault of the police these thugs are shooting up homes...And to think I thought it was the thugs who were at fault,silly me

Friday, Apr 11 at 1:01 PM exhoosier wrote ...

They did a study and most people in gangs are not illegal.

Friday, Apr 11 at 12:35 PM Common Sence wrote ...

People stop pointing fingers and the blaming game it all comes down to the parents not having to discipline their kids..

Friday, Apr 11 at 12:18 PM common sense wrote ...

Why is there comments that the gang members are border jumpers? I knew several 'members' that are white/black. There is no difference. People need to realize, it is everyone from all walks that are contributing to the 'gangs'. If you KNOW your kid and are involved with their life they would not have a reason or the time to be in a gang. Parents that don't care are the ones to blame. Why do kids join gangs? To be wanted? To be acknowledged? It isn't because they are popular.

Friday, Apr 11 at 11:43 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I agree about the police. It's as if they don't even care about that neighborhood. More care needs to be shown by the city government, too. Pierre Moran Library gets more foot traffic than other Elkhart branches (excluding the main branch, of course), is in an area where it is very valuable, and the mayor doesn't even want to help it when it needs it. It’s not a bad area of town but with the current attitudes of police and city government, it soon will be. DON'T GIVE UP ON IT, PLEASE!

Friday, Apr 11 at 11:26 AM Anonymous wrote ...

The police rarely patrol that neighborhood in of Elkhart. The last time I saw a car patrolling there was after a local tv news report a couple of years ago. And that lasted no more than a week. Recently, after a dog was kidnapped in the area a policeman's only advice to people questioning it was to move. What is expected in areas where police can't be found?

Friday, Apr 11 at 10:35 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Yep. All those who are in favor of letting the flow of illegals continue are responsible for this. Just imagine what a major city in America is like. Elkhart's problems are just small potatoes compared to some of the major cities in this country. We need to get rid of all illegals, whatever it takes. And I mean whatever!

Friday, Apr 11 at 9:00 AM bob wrote ...

it is time for all of us to start carrying and shooting back

Friday, Apr 11 at 8:50 AM Anon wrote ...

Boy, next you'll here about drive bys happening in South Bend!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 9:33 PM Sporty wrote ...

Lock the suckers up,toss the key. Gotta get tough on these trouble making punks folks. No kids gloves here. If they wanna spray bullets around,every bullet that leaves that gun should be declared attempted murder,every one of em. And if we deal with you in court as jurys,we ain't gonna go easy on ya so do yourselves a favor and stop or we'll stop you with force!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 9:09 PM Old School wrote ...

Can't prove your an American citizen, and you pay taxes??? Screw up here by painting up my town !!! you pay your own fare back home!! Our government is sworn to protect our borders, but yet they fail. These Illegals come here, take our jobs, break the law, bankrupt our health care system, then thank us by painting up the town.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 7:14 PM Old School wrote ...

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck then..... Enough is a enough!!! if our cops spot a gangster looking punk, pull him over and search from head to toe. Gangster punks are doing this stuff, and the way they look isn't hard to spot. Ruin life for the rest of us to protect their civil liberties ???? Keep heading in the wrong direction America!!

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