NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Police are asking the public to speak up after several people have been shot in the same area recently.
Residents of Marshall Courts and surrounding neighborhoods have been shaken by recent violence that includes several juveniles being shot on multiple occasions.
Police say citizens have said they don’t want to get involved by answering questions from police because some of the victims are linked to gangs and are not residents of the affected neighborhoods.
Police also say citizens have said they don’t trust police so they will not engage and others are afraid of retaliation and so they won’t speak up either.
“Even if we placed a police officer on every corner, the safety of a neighborhood is dependent on an engaged community that rejects violence and works in collaboration with officers who patrol those neighborhoods,” the police statement said.
The department is taking extraordinary measures to focus on the key locations and times of the shootings, but they are asking the public to step up to help as well.
In the last week Newport News Police have arrested 14 offenders with gang ties and have taken 11 guns off the street in the process.
If you have any information for police call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or 757-928-4290 .
Related recent shootings:
Three kids – ages 10, 14 and 16 shot in Newport News neighborhood
