City Leaders Say Jackson Has Gang Problem
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JACKSON, Tenn.–Mayor Jerry Gist believes the five shootings in Jackson this week are related organized crime. “It’s gotten so bad all the sudden and I don’t understand what’s going on,” Willie Reaves said, a Jackson resident. Violence escalates in Jackson. Police investigate five shootings, two of them deadly, in less than 17 hours. “Most of what’s going on is between the various gangs and it comes down to one thing,” Gist said. “It’s retaliation.” Gist blames this week‘s attacks on gang members. “There’s no way they’re gone sit down and talk through it,” he said. “They don’t know how to talk through it, so the best way is to get into a violent situation.” City Councilman Johnny Dodd represents part of East Jackson where most of the shootings took place. “First we got to admit that we do have a gang problem and address the issue,” Dodd said. The mayor plans to put police at Lincoln Courts and the Royal Arms Apartments all day every day. Two of the shootings happened at those complexes. “It has been a work in progress,” Gist said. “We didn’t get here overnight and we’re not gone cure it overnight.” People in the community feel uneasy. Residents want the violence to stop. “I just hope the community can come together and maybe we can get this problem solved,” Reaves said. Gist says Jackson police are working with the sheriff‘s office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Marshal Service to solve the crimes.
