Buckley Blog: Another Outrageous Act of Violence
1:15 PM July 24, 2008
This time, it was an innocent eight-year-old girl. Her name was Jasmine and she was doing what all children do--she was just playing outside--when suddenly, two young men appeared, the blast of gunfire shattered the air, and people scattered.
Left behind on the ground was a child, Jasmine Sanders. Two weeks shy of her ninth birthday, she lay dying of a gunshot wound to the chest. She succumbed at a hospital.
Now, she is gone. And so are the murderers responsible for Jasmine's death. So far, they've gotten away with it.
Eric Spillman reported the story for us this morning and it broke my heart and made me angry. Every murder is tragic, but an eight-year-old girl at play? She must have been so afraid. To those who killed her--am I right in assuming that we all want to say: How could you? How do you look yourself in the mirror? Have you no shame?
Why are these murderers still on the streets? What are they doing right now? Having a laugh? Enjoying a meal? Doing the things Jasmine will never have the opportunity to do again?
Eric tells us many people on the scene this morning were afraid to be caught on camera for fear of retaliation from local gang members. One can understand their fear given the violence that surrounds them. But police are asking for their help and ours.
I hope the folks in the neighborhood know there is a way for someone to step up, to do the right thing. To provide information to the LAPD investigators to get Jasmine's killers off the streets.
The LAPD has a number you can call to report information anonymously on Jasmine's murder and in fact, on any crime. I just called it a few moments ago to make sure it was working and someone picked up immediately. The officer told me the number is manned 24-hours-a-day.
Here it is: 1-877-LAWFUL or 1-877-529-3855.
Sadly, Jasmine's death was only the most recent instance of an innocent child being cut down by a stray bullet fired by a gang member. Calling an LAPD tip line isn't going to solve the complex issue of gangs in our communities. But calling that number with information about Jasmine's murder could help investigators to put her killers behind bars. I hope we'll be reporting that story soon.
Posted by Frank Buckley | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
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I still don't understand why the various law enforcement departments can't enact the "Patriot Act" and use the same resources to find and arrest these Domestic Terrorists that are reeking havoc right here in our neighborhoods! Why can't federal money be used to catch and prosecute these thugs?
Our country is spending billions of dollars abroad to supposedly keep us safe from terrorism - yet people are dying on a daily basis by Domestic Terrorism right here. When are our local politicians going to do something about this? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Posted by: Dan | July 24, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Fully and totally agree with Dan. This is just another prime example of the many issues we have in this country. These cowards who call themselves gangsters should be put in jail and they should STAY in jail! It's unfair for children like Jasmine to be robbed of their lives for such idiotic reasons like proving themselves "braver" and "tougher" than their rival gang bangers. These gangsters are not tough nor brave. They shoot aimlessly, in the air hoping they'll at least have 1 bullet hit their intended targets, instead kill innocent people who are minding their own business. Enough is enough. I hope some one comes forward and lead the police to the criminals. They deserve to have their lives taken away- leave them in their jail cells to rot in hell.
Posted by: Melanie | July 24, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Forget jail, just kill them like the dogs that they are. Make their parents serve jail time for their mistakes they brought into the world. The police know where the gangmembers hang out, just shoot them already. As far as the people who live in these areas and don't report anything, it's their fault when something like this happens. If you hide in your house or apt. with your curtins closed then you deserve what happens. It's to bad that the kid's have to pay for the cowards who hide and let their block be taken over by these lowlifes.
Posted by: Rick | July 24, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Forget jail, just kill them like the dogs that they are. Make their parents serve jail time for their mistakes they brought into the world. The police know where the gangmembers hang out, just shoot them already. As far as the people who live in these areas and don't report anything, it's their fault when something like this happens. If you hide in your house or apt. with your curtins closed then you deserve what happens. It's to bad that the kid's have to pay for the cowards who hide and let their block be taken over by these lowlifes.
Posted by: Rick | July 24, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Dear friends ,I read with shock ,the trajic death of a very young innocent girl ,doing what girls of that age do.There's something very wrong here." Let the guilty pay." My warm regards to you all.I'm an older guy , from your neighbor to the north.
Posted by: James R.Workman | July 25, 2008 at 06:19 AM
It's sickening isn't it?
Why are there still gangs anyway? Seriously? Who gives a you-know-what about territory outside of there?
I hate gangs and their lousy mentality. They need to stay out of the neighborhoods and keep it IN the gang if they're going to continue to be so stupid about it.
Posted by: Suzi | July 29, 2008 at 03:13 PM