2 Children, 1 Adult Shot in SE DC

[jsteele]

Yesterday my Twitter timeline began filling up with news about a shooting in Southeast DC. As the details came out, I learned that children participating in a summer program had been caught in the middle of gunfire between two unknown individuals. Two children -- and 7 and one 8 -- were wounded. In addition, an adult accompanying them was wounded. Despite his wound, the adult was able to lead the children, including the two wounded boys, to safety. A Washington Post story about the incident is here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/two-children-adult-in-dc-shot-by-stray-bullets-all-are-expected-to-survive/2012/06/25/gJQAsm7o2V_story.html

I expected to see something about this on DCUM. But, as far as I know, I am the first to mention it (more than 24 hours after the fact). When I think about the attention that other crimes -- many much less serious -- receive here, I am really saddened by the apparent lack of concern for large parts of our city. Today, Bruce Johnson of WUSA has gone back to the scene and has been tweeting reactions of people in the neighborhood. One of his tweets says this, "SE residents say they are outraged at child shootings. Feel rest of Dc doesn't care @wusa9". Sadly, I think these residents are mostly correct and that most of the rest of the City doesn't care. That bothers me.

[Anonymous]

The SE residents are correct, the rest of DC doesn't care. They only care as far as to think, "this is why I don't go to SE" or this is why I would never buy in SE. There is outrage when something could have been done differently to avoid the crime/murder. Is this a sad case, absolutely. Can the people on DCUM do something about it? Not really.

[Anonymous]

That man was a hero. Sadly, this will not make headlines and this guy will not get the recognition he deserves for leading those kids to safety. It saddens me that we leave so many people behind or treat them like they are invisible because of race/class.

[Anonymous]

I am also saddened. I just went to Washington Post and found it BURIED as usual. I care deeply, but on a good day I read the headlines on washingtonpost.com and rely on NPR outside of that. Why something like this wouldn't be a top DC headline is the thing that pisses me off. Because if it was a different neighborhood it would definitely get top billing.

[Anonymous]

I know. I read this article this morning, wondering if it involved kids I know through a tutoring program.

What was particularly scary about this was that the kids were just walking down the street and got caught in the crossfire. Most people who are murdered are murdered by someone they know. You can avoid a lot of trouble by just not getting in with the wrong people. But what can you do when morons open fire on a crowded street? Very disturbing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am also saddened. I just went to Washington Post and found it BURIED as usual. I care deeply, but on a good day I read the headlines on washingtonpost.com and rely on NPR outside of that. Why something like this wouldn't be a top DC headline is the thing that pisses me off. Because if it was a different neighborhood it would definitely get top billing.

Yes it was on the back pages of the Metro section but the picture was on the front page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The SE residents are correct, the rest of DC doesn't care. They only care as far as to think, "this is why I don't go to SE" or this is why I would never buy in SE. There is outrage when something could have been done differently to avoid the crime/murder. Is this a sad case, absolutely. Can the people on DCUM do something about it? Not really.

While this is terribly sad and I hate that it's not getting the attention that it needs to get, I seriously doubt that you live in SE. I guess there is a chance that something like this might happen anywhere, the likelihood is certainly higher in SE. Therefore, I will not be buying or living in SE. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a safe environment for your children. However, we all need to stop treating this part of the city like a leprosy colony, persecute every crime to its fullest extent, invest in education and programs for your people. We can certainly do something about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am also saddened. I just went to Washington Post and found it BURIED as usual. I care deeply, but on a good day I read the headlines on washingtonpost.com and rely on NPR outside of that. Why something like this wouldn't be a top DC headline is the thing that pisses me off. Because if it was a different neighborhood it would definitely get top billing.

Yes it was on the back pages of the Metro section but the picture was on the front page.

Are you talking the print paper? I was talking online. Alot of people only get the Sunday paper.

[Anonymous]

I generally agree with the sentiment that this would have gotten much more attention if it happened in Dupont Cir. But also, none of the kids were killed -- when a boy was shot in his apartment a few years ago in Columbia Heights, there was media coverage.

Anyway, I think the important thing to remember here is that nobody wants to live in a neighborhood where stuff like this happens. Black, white, whatever.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, I think the important thing to remember here is that nobody wants to live in a neighborhood where stuff like this happens. Black, white, whatever.

I don't really feel like that is the important issue here. I feel the important issue is that two children are wounded, a number of other children have probably been traumatized, and a man acted heroically. It is the fact that very few seem to consider that to be important that bothers me.

[Anonymous]

I didn't know. That's terrible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am also saddened. I just went to Washington Post and found it BURIED as usual. I care deeply, but on a good day I read the headlines on washingtonpost.com and rely on NPR outside of that. Why something like this wouldn't be a top DC headline is the thing that pisses me off. Because if it was a different neighborhood it would definitely get top billing.

Yes it was on the back pages of the Metro section but the picture was on the front page.

Are you talking the print paper? I was talking online. Alot of people only get the Sunday paper.

Yes, print paper.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, I think the important thing to remember here is that nobody wants to live in a neighborhood where stuff like this happens. Black, white, whatever.

I don't really feel like that is the important issue here. I feel the important issue is that two children are wounded, a number of other children have probably been traumatized, and a man acted heroically. It is the fact that very few seem to consider that to be important that bothers me.

It was all over the morning news. It's not that is isn't important, it's that it isn't important on your website. DC urban moms or not, there are clear social and economic divides here. I'm not surprised at all that it wasn't mentioned, and took almost 50 views before someone responded. All this story does is reinforce the views that SE is a subpar part of DC. Any thoughts or concerns about the hero and victims take a backseat.

..now back to grocery carts and name brand children's clothes...

[Anonymous]

Oh, I completely agree with Jeff. If it's not in your neighborhood or local school then it's someone else's problem. My kid goes to a good out of boundary school. The PTA view of the school is help our (GT) kids first and forget about the kids who are bussed in from southeast--they're lucky to be here. What? Every child deserves a safe school and neighborhood where they can play outside without getting shot.

Perhaps rather than having these massive school auctions which benefit our individual schools, there should be a "community" component that gives the money to schools who need the money for tutors and aides.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, I think the important thing to remember here is that nobody wants to live in a neighborhood where stuff like this happens. Black, white, whatever.

I don't really feel like that is the important issue here. I feel the important issue is that two children are wounded, a number of other children have probably been traumatized, and a man acted heroically. It is the fact that very few seem to consider that to be important that bothers me.

Ok, maybe it's not "the" important issue, but I think it's the important issue for this website. People get so obsessed with "bad" neighborhoods that they view all black people as others, completely alienated from them. They fail to realize that, say, the moms with kids growing up in Potomac Gardens have just as much interest in making the neighborhood safe as do the gentrifiers. Instead, they equate the entire black population with the few troublemakers.