Will gang violence overrun Ottley Hall/Edinboro?

Gang violence is still threatening to overrun the Ottley Hall/Edinboro community.

Three young men received gunshot wounds in three different incidents last weekend, but a police source believes that they are interconnected in some way.{{more}}

On Friday, June 19th, young soca artiste Kenroy “Rusty” Baptiste, 22, was shot in the left side of his back, at around 10:30pm at Ottley Hall.

Then on Saturday, June 20th, Jomo Brudy, who is also 22 years old, was shot while he sat on a wall in front of a shop in Edinboro at around 9:00pm.

He received wounds to his right thigh and groin area.

Brudy must be counting his lucky stars because just last December 3rd, he was in the company of Shereen Clouden at Ottley Hall, when at around 9:00pm gunmen opened fire.

Brudy was shot in his face, but escaped with his life, but Clouden, 22, wasn’t so fortunate.

She was shot once in her head and died on the spot.

Kamal Moore, 21, and Atiba Bess, 16, are currently facing a preliminary inquiry into that incident at the Serious Offences Court to determine whether or not they will answer a charge of murder at the High Court.

The spate continued on the night of Monday, June 22, when Keron Bowen, 16, was shot in his testicles, while he was at the public bath at Ottley Hall.

After Clouden’s murder last year, Parliamentary Representative for the area, René Baptiste told SEARCHLIGHT that she was determined to ensure that the negative influences don’t consume the Ottley Hall/Edinboro area.

Baptiste is very supportive of the Urban League of Ottley Hall, a community development youth group that has been working towards promoting positive vibes in the area.

“I am disappointed that crime and violence is trying to push away the good work being done by the Urban League,” she told SEARCHLIGHT in a recent interview.

President of the Urban League, Sean Frederick, also indicated that efforts are being made to calm tension between the feuding gangs.

However, after last week’s incidents, it would seem that much more work needs to be done to bring an end to the senseless violence, before another young person’s life is snuffed out in the wake of it.(KJ)