GREENSBORO, N.C. — Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection to the death of another teen in High Point. Back in early October, police say a car pulled up on the corner of Triangle Lake and Hickory Chapel roads and fired about 30 shots killing 17-year-old Kobie Manwarren. The teen arrested is a 15-year-old gang member, according to police.
Police also arrested four people in connection with the October 17 shooting death of 17-year-old Jumil Robertson on Argonne Blvd. Police confirmed those individuals are known, gang members. Authorities said Robertson, a Glenn High School student, was not affiliated with a gang or linked to such activity and they are still investigating the motive for his murder.
Law enforcement says they're doing everything they can to curb gang violence and bring the perpetrators to book, but they need their communities' help.
"Gang activity is prevalent in the Triad and it's not just specific to one part of the Triad," said Sgt. Korey Johnson of the Greensboro Police Department.
"As a society, we will have to learn and grow and figure out how we are going to address certain behaviors," he added.
"We must be consistent in our approach to educating and influencing our young people about the decisions they make and the influences around them. Our focus is to play a key role in combating gang activity and the back and forth shootings that have plagued our city over the last couple of years. We have long maintained that a small number of people (less than 50) are involved in this violent activity and our focus continues to be composing quality cases on those driving violent crime," said Lt. Curtis Cheeks of the High Point Police Department.
Several community-driven initiatives are trying to stay a step ahead of the gang recruitment and negative influence and appeal that gang member and gang-affiliation may already have on the youth.
"Between 12 and 17, those of the ones that are terrorizing the community, those are the ones that are killing one another and those of the ones that are killing the adults because they have something to prove," said Will Pettiford a behavioral counselor at a charter school in Guilford County.
Pettiford also runs a gang prevention program called Voice Of The Struggle where he counsels at-risk youth and steers them towards a crime-free path.
He says kids are being influenced to join gangs early for what he says is known as 'clout chasing' and 'earning their stain'.
"It is a serious gang issue because it's at those tender ages where they, as these kids would call it, get their rank. They think when they get their time in jail, that validates them and that shows the streets that they are serious about what they’re doing, they are serious about that gang," added Pettiford, who said he was once himself a gang member from the age of 8 before a close call with prison gave him the opportunity to retrace his steps.
"I ran with those guys a long time until I was 19 years old and then I was hit with criminal activity and gang behavior. I was almost going to spend 22 years in prison, behind bars, but at the age of 23 I started to open my mind and realize that things are different than what I thought and I realized I had been misinformed my whole entire life just like many of these other people."
"In 2011 all my charges were dropped and I had to pay restitution and a woman came through and paid all my fines for me. A woman that I still have not met to this day. She came and paid all my fines and I walked away with just three years of probation," Pettirod said that's why he is dedicated to giving back to the community through his organization and connecting with the youth.
"I was once into the life of gangbanging, so I understand it and that’s why I came back to the street because once I became 'eye-opened', I understood there was a huge misconnection to the streets," he concluded.
Law enforcement representatives say there's no exact warning model for parents and family members to look for to link to gang activity except when they are told or when the activity becomes obvious. At which point they say the teen is already deeply involved and at greater risk. But according to the police, some possible risk factors for gang activity are the following:
- Poor academic performance
- Increased conflict at home and at school
- Frequent disciplinary action
- Tattoos that could be drawings or the real thing
- Drawing or sketching graffiti on notebooks, desks, or walls
- Extensive use of sign languages
None of these alone mean your child is involved in a gang. But multiple ones may mean that they're at risk.
So what can you do?
- Know who your child associates with. Meet their friends and their friends' parents.
- Talk to your kids in positive ways. Gang activity is often sought out by kids looking to belong.
- Set limits. Unacceptable behavior will become acceptable if you allow it.
- Set curfews. Tweens and teens don't need to be out on the streets late at night.
Monitor their media and social media consumption. Take note of what your kids are watching and listening to and you might be able to catch them
Following your child on social media can seem difficult. But it's not impossible. We've got some easy ways to do it. Click here to read it.
And to see Greensboro Police's full guide click here.