University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, December 4, 1991
5
Street gang activity rising in Lawrence community
By Andy Taylor Special to the Kansan
They rumble down Interstate 70 driving beat-up Pintos and expensive Mercedes.
They carry a few weapons like pawn-shop guns and cheap knives, but their biggest artillery may be their deadly influence.
They roll into the Lawrence schools to recruit potential soldiers. They bribe them with money, narcotics and drugs. The recruits are not even old enough to shave.
They are street gang members, a force that has invaded inner-city neighborhoods and, now, rural U.S. life. As gang activity increases in the Kansas City area and Topeka, the city is seeing signs of gang activity that have led officials seeking ways to keep their streets from becoming war zones.
"They are already in smaller communities," said Harold Schreiber, a juvenile court officer in the Wyandotte County District Court. "All Lawrence has to do is to look around, and the residents will see gang potential."
If people walk past the popular teenage hangouts in Lawrence, they might see gang leaders recruiting younger members.
"I personally have seen people on this campus recruiting high school students to be members of their gangs," said Ted Jeneau, senior vice principal at Lawrence High School, of Louisiana St. one of the state's largest public schools. "Most of the gang members here." wannabes. They want to do it just for status. But there is an aura of gangs here."
Juneau said he had observed students wearing "colors," sports clothing that is popular icons of gangs. Jackets and caps with the L.A. Raiders or Chicago Bulls logos are the most common.
Pat Henry, a court officer in the Douglas County Courthouse, said the foundation for gangs in Lawrence was founded by James Patterson, who denies there is any gang activity
"It is a problem," she said. "The 'wannabe' gang members are dealing in petty theft and crime. Once they start stealing, they want to move to bigger crimes. Their relatives from the inner cities like L.A. or Chicago
Boy escapes life as a Crip
By Andy Taylor Special to the Kansan
Nobody knows the gang structure like Maurice Jones.
Four years ago Jones, now 16,
became a "runner," — someone
who wears drugs and runs other
errands — for the crip gang in
Topeka.
He quit eight months ago.
"I was sick of seeing the gang leaders find B- or 9-year-old kids and making them pawns," Jones said. "I was a part of only one thing."
Maurice said that he joined the gangs because of peer pressure.
"I got jumped one day after school by a gang, and that's when I decided to join one," he said. "Ialso liked the money-making. I would make $200 or $300 a week selling crack."
He wore only blue clothes, the
color of the Crips.
"When my parents would buy me something of red or orange colors, I wouldn't wear it," he said. "I had to wear only blue shoes. That's when my parents started figuring out about the gang."
He said he bought two guns, a 9mm pistol and a .44-caliber Magnum.
"Guns are easy to find," he said.
"I bought mine for $20 apiece."
Most of the gang members were high school dropouts, he said.
"When we had our gang wars, it was like walking in Iraq during a military battle," he said.
Now, Maurice visits area schools, telling students about his experiences as a gang member.
"That's why I'm telling people about it," he said. "Once they get into a gang, the results are disastrous."
teach them how to be a gang-banger.
"But many in the community are in a state of denial. They don't want to pay for the damages known is now the ground for gangs, nor do they want to alarm the community."
Guns and knives are as important as wearing the gangs' colors.
Juneau said he thought that gangs developed from a lack of family value.
"I see kids coming from nonreal family structure," he said. "Most are disenfranchised kids. I wouldn't characterize them as just drug dealers."
Henry said three incidents of gang-related drive-by shootings had been reported in his year. No one was injured, but bullets fired at particular individuals, she said.
About a month ago, a 14-year-old Lawrence boy who was reportedly in a gang fight at school was involved in a shooting on the street streets, according to Lawrence police.
Sgt. Mark Warren of the Lawrence police said drive-by shootings were classified as aggravated battery.
"The incident is still under investigation," Warren said. "We are constantly watching for the graffitai symbols and rumors from people."
The Bloods and the Crips, two main gang rivals, developed from innercity ghettoes and eventually divided into sects. Now, hundreds of gangs across the United States have Blood or Crip connections. Each gang has their own salute, gestures, slang language and apparel style.
"Gang leaders actually educate the younger gang members how to do things," Henry said.
Drugs and turf motivate gans. When a rival member makes an appearance on an enemy's street, the result could be bloody.
"We do have drive by shootings and gangs out robbing drug dealers," said Lt. Bud Brooks, a representative from Topeka police.
"Most of the time, shootings are out of revenge," he said. "There is usually a third or fourth group involved. So it gets pretty muddied."
Henry said gang members did not learn from punishment.
"We send them to a detention facility because they are still teen-agers," she said. "They serve their nine-month term and get back into the gang. They have no concept of death. They live for today for tomorrow holds no promises."
Lady Killer
Among many young women, smoking is viewed as stylish. It is not. Smoking is deadly. If you smoke, please consider stopping. For help, information and support, please contact your local American Cancer Society.
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