'Holes that can't be filled': Lebanon County law enforcement sees youth gun violence rise

Matthew Toth, Lebanon Daily News
·4 min read
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In 2019, Lindley Thelismond shot and killed James Jeter, 26, in what officials called a gang-related incident in 2019. Four years later, Jeter's mother Dusown Kennedy is still having a hard time explaining to Jeter's three children why their father went to heaven.

“It’s hard, and I know I’ll never get my son back," she said at a press conference Monday afternoon.

Lebanon County law enforcement officials are seeing more violent crimes, including shootings and homicides with firearms by 17-year-olds. Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said stopping the rise of juvenile crime and assaults with firearms needs to start at home.

"I'm tried of having to sit with parents, and watch them grieve," she said. "I'm tired of going to crime scenes and staring at the body of a 12-year-old slain down in the street, and it starts in the home."

Almost four years after the death of her son James Jeter, Dusown Kennedy joined District Attorney Pier Hess Graf Monday to talk about the rising youth gun violence in Lebanon County. “It’s hard and I know I’ll never get my son back," she said at the press conference.
Almost four years after the death of her son James Jeter, Dusown Kennedy joined District Attorney Pier Hess Graf Monday to talk about the rising youth gun violence in Lebanon County. “It’s hard and I know I’ll never get my son back," she said at the press conference.

In the 13 years Graf has spent working in the district attorney's office, she's never seen a rash of crimes with illegal firearms as she's seeing presently. Those who choose a lifestyle of gang affiliation end only in one of two ways, according to Graf: prison or death.

"We are seeing younger and younger defendants being charged with aggravated assault by firearm, criminal homicide by firearm," she said. "The bottom line is by the time law enforcement is called to a scene, by the time I become involved, in some aspect it's already too late."

More than a week ago, Thelismond, 17, of New York, was sentenced to life in prison for the death of Jeter, with the possibility of parole in 50 years. Thelismond was found guilty in June 2022 of first-degree homicide.

"That verdict and that outcome, it might be justice under the law, but it's not justice for the two people standing before you today," Graf said. "A life sentence is never going to bring your son back."

Thelismond sentencing:'A hole in my heart': New York gang member gets life sentence for 2019 Lebanon city shooting

Thelismond Trial:'He killed my friend': New York gang member found guilty in 2019 Lebanon city shooting

Thelismond and Jeter were identified as being members of the Crips, a gang based in Brooklyn, New York. Thelismond was in Lebanon to hide because of his alleged connection to a fatal shooting in New York City, according to officials. The victim lived in Vanderveer, a distinct subsection of the housing projects in Brooklyn.

"When (Thelismond) came here, he dealt drugs, and at 17 he managed to illegally purchase three illegal firearms," Graf said.

Almost four years after the death of her son James Jeter, Dusown Kennedy joined District Attorney Pier Hess Graf Monday to talk about the rising youth gun violence in Lebanon County. “It’s hard and I know I’ll never get my son back," she said at the press conference.
Almost four years after the death of her son James Jeter, Dusown Kennedy joined District Attorney Pier Hess Graf Monday to talk about the rising youth gun violence in Lebanon County. “It’s hard and I know I’ll never get my son back," she said at the press conference.

Jeter's father Robert Kennedy said that families, siblings and children are still feeling the emptiness of the loss of his son.

"There are holes that can't be filled, like you dig a hole outside in the dirt you can always fill it up," he said. "These kind of holes you can't fill up, and there's holes here."

The district attorney's office recently received a $200,000 state grant to combat gun violence. Graf said law enforcement need the tools to combat the increase in gun violence but did not specify what those tools are at Monday's press conference.

Law enforcement would never be able to fully remove illegal gun trade in the community, according to Graf.

"The bottom line is if you know the right people and you have cash (or) drugs, these kids are finding ways to get firearms," she said.

Another way to combat violent crime is for community to reach out to law enforcement if they know something about the incident.

Jason R. Rivera, 13, was shot and killed February 2022 at the 300 block of Vine Street in South Lebanon County. Police are still looking for leads in his case.
Jason R. Rivera, 13, was shot and killed February 2022 at the 300 block of Vine Street in South Lebanon County. Police are still looking for leads in his case.

Before 9 p.m. Feb. 15, 2022, Jason Rivera, 12, was shot and killed in the 300 block of Vine Street in South Lebanon Township, just outside the city's southern limits. A year later, police have struggled to find leads on the person who shot him.

"People know what happened to that child," Graf said. "We talk to his family on a pretty regular basis, and they call in, 'Where are we at with this?' No one is talking to (law enforcement) about what happened. ... When you rather align yourself with a criminal in a gang than with police, you have a family that goes forever without knowing what happened to that child."

Jason Rivera:Family pleads for help in finding killer of 13-year-old Jason Rivera in South Lebanon Twp.

The person who pays for these increased gun crimes is the parents, Dusown Kennedy said. Kids need to find other outlets to deal with these situations, and possibly walk away and still stay alive.

"I just feel that they should find other ways to deal with their situation," she said. "Find a way to either compromise or try to find a good way to walk away from the situation. I know it's hard, but just try."

Officials are asking anyone who knows something about Rivera's shooting to contact the South Lebanon Township Police Department at 717-272-2054, the District Attorney's office at 717-228-4412, the Lebanon County Detective Bureau at 717-228-4403, or Crimestoppers at 717-270-9800.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County law enforcement is seeing rise in youth gun violence