In the small town of Windsor, a major problem is brewing. Young children and teenagers are dropping toys and video games for guns, drugs and money.
Marked with scars and tattoos from rites of passage into violent gangs, these children often times do not realize the dangers found in their new hobbies.
With suspected members as young as nine years old, pictures tell the tale of serious gang activity in the town, which has not seen a homicide in three years.
Chief of Police, Robert Porti, calls the rise in gang activities "shocking". With only five uniformed police officers to battle over 25 suspected gang members, he admits they are facing a serious challenge.
"Our operations are limited these kids are connected by cell phones internet connections, Facebook " Those outlets are the same sources that Chief Porti has gathered most of the proof against the gangs.
After a school shooting at a dance school in Windsor, police were able to link the incident to possible gangs in the area. At the scene of the shooting, police found an AK-47 assault rifle. The evidence led to known gang members in neighboring towns. Graffiti tags sprayed onto Windsor Middle School were almost identical to those found on schools in Suffolk.
Officials believe that established gangs in Suffolk and Franklin have chosen the town of Windsor as their newest front for recruiting new members and crime.
Chief Porti has faith that it is still early enough to stop it before it gets to a point of no control.
"We don't have a problem, we have a lot of potential for one in the future. We need people to first understand that 'yes, it can happen in Windsor'."
Marked with scars and tattoos from rites of passage into violent gangs, these children often times do not realize the dangers found in their new hobbies.
With suspected members as young as nine years old, pictures tell the tale of serious gang activity in the town, which has not seen a homicide in three years.
Chief of Police, Robert Porti, calls the rise in gang activities "shocking". With only five uniformed police officers to battle over 25 suspected gang members, he admits they are facing a serious challenge.
"Our operations are limited these kids are connected by cell phones internet connections, Facebook " Those outlets are the same sources that Chief Porti has gathered most of the proof against the gangs.
After a school shooting at a dance school in Windsor, police were able to link the incident to possible gangs in the area. At the scene of the shooting, police found an AK-47 assault rifle. The evidence led to known gang members in neighboring towns. Graffiti tags sprayed onto Windsor Middle School were almost identical to those found on schools in Suffolk.
Officials believe that established gangs in Suffolk and Franklin have chosen the town of Windsor as their newest front for recruiting new members and crime.
Chief Porti has faith that it is still early enough to stop it before it gets to a point of no control.
"We don't have a problem, we have a lot of potential for one in the future. We need people to first understand that 'yes, it can happen in Windsor'."
