Clarksdale leaders take aim at crime, violence after teen’s death
CLARKSDALE, Miss. — Community leaders in Clarksdale, Mississippi, came together Tuesday to take aim at rising crime after gun violence claims another young victim.
Mayor Chuck Espy was flanked by law enforcement as well as heads of two school systems as he addressed the growing crime and violence.
“There is a united effort, the County and City, we are one,” Espy said. “We are going to make sure that we make a strong stand, and if one life is taken in this community, that is one too many.”
The solid support against crime includes asking Coahoma County and the State of Mississippi for assistance.
It comes after another juvenile was killed by gunfire.
15-year-old dead after overnight shooting in Clarksdale, MS
The latest tragedy happened at a home on Choctaw Street, where police were flagged down Monday around 2 a.m. They found a 15-year-old boy shot multiple times while at least seven other people were in the house.
“The young man was in the front room there and bullets were fired through the front window and there were other individuals in the house but he was the only one that got struck,” said Assistant Police Chief Vincent Ramirez.
Ramirez did not rule out that this shooting was an act of retaliation.
We were told that the 15-year-old was reportedly a student at Clarksdale High School. He is the second student that was killed by gunfire in ten days.
Clarksdale, Mississippi teen fatally shot in head
“We’re all saddened because we hold all of our children dear to us and so right now we’re just putting systems in place to have counselors available,” said Superintendent Toya Harrell-Matthews.
Matthews said the availability of guns and lack of parental involvement are partially to blame. A resident who didn’t want to be identified said gunfire is an everyday occurrence.
“The younger people, generation now, it’s just rough ’cause I hear every day, every time I wake up, somebody got killed in Clarksdale,” the concerned resident said.
Clarksdale Police are also dealing with numerous reports of shots fired around the city and confirmed that some of the calls are gang-related.
Clarksdale, MS Police respond to 10 shootings in 5 days
If you have any information that could help lead to an arrest in the 15-year-old’s death, you are urged to call the Clarksdale Police Department at 662-621-8151.
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