Another Chattanooga teen faces charges for a violent crime.
A 15-year-old boy is accused of killing cab driver James Fleming, Junior during a robbery attempt Sunday night.
It's just another in a series of recent violent incidents involving local youth.
WDEF News 12's Bill Mitchell brings us up-to-date on community efforts to work with young people... In tonight's top local story.
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A cab driver is dead....shot, according to police by a 15 year old boy in a failed robbery attempt.
That was last Sunday night...just the latest in what community leaders say is becoming a regular occurence. Groups like Stop the Madness are trying to intervene with with young people before they have a chance to commit such crimes. Stop the madness has the blessing and financial support of city leaders.
SOT---REV. TERNAE JORDAN, STOP THE MADNESS IN:11:53:27 "everything is bombarding us with violence and young minds ..Are receptive to that."
Rev. Ternae Jordan blames popular music, violent movies and video games...television..and the lack of parental guidance. He also says news stories inadvertently promote crime.
SOT---JORDAN IN:09:08 "many times when you are taking pictures of individuals holding up gang signs and smiling for the camera....that is their moment of glory."
STANDUP BILL--The focus is on places like the Bethlehem center where they can go face to face with the young people who are most likely to become the perpetrators of..or the victims of crime.
SOT---LARONE JENKINS, EXEC. DIR. BETHLEHEM CENTER IN:39:58 "there's always been too much juvenile crime ..Any juvenile crime is too much. But that's part of what we have to deal with."
In addition to Stop the Madness and the Bethlehem Center, numerous groups are trying to work directly with the teens and young adults who at highest risk.
SOT--- OFFICER WEARY IN:36:05 "it's maybe one or two percent of the youth that are committing crimes and being delinquent out here."
SOT---LARONE JENNINGS IN:40:28 "we ought to celebrate more of the children that's doing the positive things..doing the right things ..More children doing what's right than children doing what's wrong."
In Chattanooga Bill Mitchell, WDEF News 12.
Police also try to break-up gangs before they get a toe-hold in the community with their Gang Intervention Task Force.
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