Summary
Laveta Richardson, a mother, never thought that she would experience like those mothers seen on TV who grieve for their children’s loss to Chicago’s gun violence. On Thursday, Laveta Richardson was comforted by her relatives about the death of Venzel Richardson, age 14, the youngest among the siblings. Venzel was shot in West Woodlawn. According to the mother, her son Venzel was gone because there are people who do not have remorse and feelings. She cried hysterically said that her home would not be as before. Chicago police reported that Venzel, a freshman student at Dunbar High School had a walked with two companion teenagers in 6100 South Vernon Avenue at 8:20pm, Wednesday. Venzel was shot by a gunman somewhere in the head and he died. Police said that a recent conflict between the Black Disciples and Gangster Disciples gangs who contributed to the latest violent behavior in West Woodlawn. Venzel’s family became mad when they learned from the news that the teen was labeled as member of a gang, and Denice Richardson, the victim’s aunt angrily asked the police about the report. Venzel’s death was not immediately notified to his family, his cousin learned on the news on Facebook. Laveta described her son just like other typical teenagers, sporty, play online games, and part of the ROTC program. The death of her son occurs after a friend from Emmett Till Elementary School named Marquise Harris, 16 years old, was shot in West Woodlawn. On the same day of the Venzel’s death, Wednesday at 6:50pm, a man, 36 was shot in 4600 South California Avenue, took himself to the Hospital and condition had stabilized. The man initially told the police that he was being shot in 1500 South Fairfield Avenue in Douglas Park.
Gang violence is a growing public health problem in the society; it is a physical interaction concerning active gang members, either as the victim or as perpetrator. An adolescent who witnessed violence in the community can have deep psychological problems. The interactions between the adolescents and its environment, the exposure of the adolescents to gang violence have a negative impact on their development and behavior that leads to mental health problems. The exposure to extreme acts of violence, adolescents’ show signs of sleep disturbance, difficulty concentration in school, and increased risk-taking behavior. Many of these adolescents may also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Exposure to violence in the community is commonly seen by adolescents, and adolescents who live in violent community described experiences with variety of forms of a community violence. The exposure of adolescents to community violence is associated with interest in gangs; they tend to enhance their interest to join a gang, desire to belong to a gang is associated with an intention to engage in violence.
Works Cited
Gorner, J. (2014, February 13). Boy, 14, killed in drive-by: 'My baby is gonemy house will
never be the same'. Chicago Tribune , pp. 1-2. Retrieved from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-2-shot-1-fatally-in-separate-shootings-20140212,0,3083310.story.
