Police say the two teenagers who attacked Christopher Jones on Nantucket Drive in Crofton were members of a neighborhood gang. Now residents are fighting to take their neighborhood back.
In a crowded room of more than 3 hundred parents, Susie Astrada stepped to the microphone and said, “Your school Mr. Superintendent, your school did nothing." The room broke into applause. Astrada is the aunt of 14 year old Christopher Jones, who was killed Saturday. “My sister contacted Arundel High School 5 weeks ago to tell them her son was being threatened," she explained, “they promised her they would do something about it.”
Instead, 5 weeks later -- after Christopher was transferred to another High School --- the 14 year old was beaten and killed as he rode his bike just block from his home. Parents believe Crofton kids split amongst 3 different High Schools lead to the turf wars. “My nephew would not be lying in a street dead on a Saturday afternoon if this system did not fail him," Astrada continued.
“The Crofton community has been begging and pleading for a High School for many, many years," said Theresa Sentz-Smith. Listening to residents’ concerns were School Superintendent Kevin Maxwell, Police Chief Col. James Teare, Sr. and County Executive John Leopold who said, “Although some of our agencies do a good job you could never do a good of job as possible.”
The Police Chief told parents, “You can call 911 if you see it and if you see graffiti that's signs of gang activity." Police have identified two gangs in Crofton, The New Threat and East Side Diamonds.
Neighbors have had enough.
“It’s kinda like the community doesn't want to give up; they want to fight," said Don Rischer. Andrea Phillip added, “We are a community that is going to gather together and make sure this kind of mark is never made in our community again."
The two teenagers are charged with manslaughter. Police say they will now focus their efforts in Crofton trying to identify gang members in hope to dismantle the violent groups.
