City leaders call on community in wake of recent violence

By Sarah Rice (srice@wsbt.com)

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City leaders address South Bend shootings

South Bend Police Chief Darryl Boykins, St. Joseph County Prosecutor Mike Dvorak and South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke held a press conference on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 to address the recent violence in the city. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Oct 29, 2008 at 4:31 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 29, 2008 at 5:26 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — Neighbors are frustrated and concerned about a recent spike in violence in South Bend. City leaders are now calling on the community to help.

The violence started October 19, on East Woodside Street where James Martin was shot and killed inside his home. Police arrested four people for that crime, and are still searching for a fifth.

Five people were shot around the city this past Sunday. One person died from a gunshot wound to the head during a drive-by shooting on LaSalle Avenue.

On Monday afternoon a teenager was shot in the back at the Pulaski Park. He remains in critical condition. Three people are in custody for that case.

And Tuesday night a shooting on Mishawaka Avenue in the River Park area killed 30-year-old Justin Bird.

At a news conference Wednesday, city leaders said these shootings were not random, that the community is safe.

But some neighbors aren't so sure.

"I just moved here from out in the country,” said Brad Morgan. “I'm not used to this. This is a little out there."

Morgan lives around the corner from where Bird was shot and killed inside his apartment on East Mishawaka Avenue Tuesday night.

"There was an invited guest in the home,” said Capt. Phil Trent. “And that invited guest got into some sort of confrontation with our victim and that's when the shooting occurred."

"I'm shocked by it,” said Morgan. “I'm really shocked."

And so is Ruth Ferrell. She runs a thrift store next to the apartment.

"I think it's out of control,” Ferrell said. “I think something needs to be done about it."

This is the eighth shooting in South Bend in less than two weeks. Three people are dead and one is in critical condition.

The reason? City officials point to a violent lifestyle.

"I think these are just lifestyle issues and availability of guns that is causing a lot of this, and just poor thinking,” said South Bend Police Chief Darryl Boykins. “I think there's just no parent intervention whatsoever."

City leaders say the community needs to help.

"If you have children that have guns, you better seize those guns and take them from the children,” said St. Joseph County Prosecutor Mike Dvorak. “It's certainly dangerous."

And neighbors couldn't agree more.

"I just want them to get all the guns off the street,” said Ferrell. “That's what we need. I raise seven kids and I do not like the violence. It scares me."

"Our community will not stand for this type of violence. And we will not stand for this type of violence," said South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke.

Chief Boykins says he's stepping up security in the area of the shootings by adding extra officers to the streets. He's also hoping to form a Street Crimes Unit at the beginning of the year to help fight the violence.

Police say the five shootings that happened early Sunday may be connected, but the other three shootings are isolated incidents.

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