Judge Bales Says Gang Violence Needs To Stop
posted July 1, 2009
A Bonny Oaks man testified Wednesday that a bullet fired during a 2 a.m. gang shootout narrowly missed hitting his 15-year-old daughter.
James Michael Deal II said the bullet went a foot or two above where the daughter was asleep in her bedroom and shattered a mirror nearby.
Several neighbors on Holiday Hills Circle testified in General Sessions Court about diving for cover when the shots rang out last Wednesday.
Ten young people, including several verified gang members, were charged. Judge David Bales heard several of the cases and bound them to the grand jury on charges of reckless endangerment and vandalism.
He raised the bond to $125,000 for several defendants, including Joshua Daniels, who had been allowed out on a $1,000 bond while waiting trial for attempted murder.
Judge Bales said the "gang violence has got to stop."
Adarius Smith and Deandre Leonard were on suspended sentences when they were arrested, and they were ordered to begin serving time on the prior cases.
According to testimony, a silver Durango occupied by four black males drove by 7749 Holiday Hills Circle and shots rang out.
Officer Jennifer McCoy said there was evidence that shots were fired from the Durango and back at the vehicle from the residence. Charged were the four youths in the Durango as well as six young people on the porch of the house.
Officer McCoy said there were so many shell casings on the ground that she was worried she was going to step on one.
She said no one on the porch would initially admit that return shots were fired. She said there was a shell casing in the floor of the Durango and a windshield that appeared it had been hit by a bullet. She said those in the vehicle said the window damage was from a baseball.
The officer said two handguns were found in a laundry basket inside the residence, which is a duplex. She said one was a pistol and the other was a long semi-automatic weapon.
She said several of those involved are verified gang members. She said the driver of the Durango, Reginald Harris, is in the Rollin' 60s.
Mr. Deal said the neighborhood "is nice during the day. Kids play outside. But it's a different place at night."
He said he heard a string of shots that "sounded like they lasted forever."
He said afterwards, his daughter as well as his son and a friend who was spending the night, came into his bedroom in a panic.
Another neighbor said he was asleep with his fiancee when the shots started. He said his fiancee was terrified by the shots. He said he pushed her to the floor and got on top of her to shield her from the bullets.
Witnesses said a work van was hit by one of the shots and bullets went into the duplex.
peoplew teenagHenry McElvain 9/13/84
Deandre Leonard 04/05/90
Reginald Harris 11/7/83
Cordarrius Bonds 8/7/91
Joshua Daniels 2/25/89
Christopher Meadows 7/5/90
Stephone Reed 8/8/90
Adarins Smith 11/11/87
Carvonta Petty 11/23/87
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |
