Another shooting near the National Zoo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not send him to Juvenile detention until he is 18, then send him to adult prison. Its probably safe to assume he is going to end up in adult prison at some point with a track record starting at age 11! Who robs someone with a knife at 11?

Someone with mental issues or a deeply unstable home life. I'm guessing; I know nothing about this kid.

It's also probably safe to assume that with stability and someone to look up to who holds them accountable, lots of people with heinous histories have managed to turn their lives around.

At what expense prior? There is usually a suffering individual/family who has been affected by a criminal, so forgive me for not being preoccupied with the individual wanting to turn his life around. He/She can accomplish things - from prison, where he/she belongs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well the alleged so-called suspects a child too! Just because he's being suspected of something doesn't mean he don't have rights too.

What that person puts a gun in his hands and shoots into a crowd, he's just done a very adult thing (never mind illegal and stupid)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well the alleged so-called suspects a child too! Just because he's being suspected of something doesn't mean he don't have rights too.

Your advice for next year??

Zip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the article today and have to admit that I felt very uncomfortable that the Police had what sounded to me like a credible threat based on social media chatter, but didn't inform the public.

I get that we don't treat gang violence threats like terrorist threats, but is this the right choice? If my child had passed by the zoo at the wrong time (which might well have happened-- we live nearby and walk past very often) and had gotten hurt, I would have felt 1000 times worse knowing that violence was actually anticipated, and that the police weren't really prepared to prevent it-- just to stop it once it started. I think citizens have a right to know about situations it's smart to avoid.

Sure, I've lived here long enough to be aware of the event's history of violence, and thanks to Popville (no thanks to the for-profit media), I knew about the gun incident and Ellington Bridge mini-mob the previous week. That helped me decide to avoid the immediate zoo area that day. But I think credible information that gangs are planning to fight at a specific event should result in the cancellation of the event, or at least a warning to the public to attend at their own risk. Boo to the Smithsonian (and it hurts me to write that!) and to the MPD for not sharing what they knew or taking more effective preventative action.

I agree completely. I was actually planning to go to the zoo that day with my baby and preschooler. Thankfully I read something here about a shooting, anticipated violence, and then after much googling found some opinion websites that talked about Easter Monday violence. It's irresponsible of the media and police to keep the general public uninformed. I will now avoid the zoo for all of Spring break, Easter weekend, and Easter Monday.

This again raises the fundamental question: Why not cancel or at least significantly restructure the event to get it under control? Suggestions have included a ticketed event (could be free or nominal price) or change the focus to be elementary school age children. People should not have to avoid the zoo during Spring prime visiting season because they are scared to go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the article today and have to admit that I felt very uncomfortable that the Police had what sounded to me like a credible threat based on social media chatter, but didn't inform the public.

I get that we don't treat gang violence threats like terrorist threats, but is this the right choice? If my child had passed by the zoo at the wrong time (which might well have happened-- we live nearby and walk past very often) and had gotten hurt, I would have felt 1000 times worse knowing that violence was actually anticipated, and that the police weren't really prepared to prevent it-- just to stop it once it started. I think citizens have a right to know about situations it's smart to avoid.

Sure, I've lived here long enough to be aware of the event's history of violence, and thanks to Popville (no thanks to the for-profit media), I knew about the gun incident and Ellington Bridge mini-mob the previous week. That helped me decide to avoid the immediate zoo area that day. But I think credible information that gangs are planning to fight at a specific event should result in the cancellation of the event, or at least a warning to the public to attend at their own risk. Boo to the Smithsonian (and it hurts me to write that!) and to the MPD for not sharing what they knew or taking more effective preventative action.

I agree completely. I was actually planning to go to the zoo that day with my baby and preschooler. Thankfully I read something here about a shooting, anticipated violence, and then after much googling found some opinion websites that talked about Easter Monday violence. It's irresponsible of the media and police to keep the general public uninformed. I will now avoid the zoo for all of Spring break, Easter weekend, and Easter Monday.

This again raises the fundamental question: Why not cancel or at least significantly restructure the event to get it under control? Suggestions have included a ticketed event (could be free or nominal price) or change the focus to be elementary school age children. People should not have to avoid the zoo during Spring prime visiting season because they are scared to go there.

Exactly. The more scared you become (for good reason, obviously),
the more you'll have to be scared of.

Let's be mindful about which behaviors we reward.

[Anonymous]

If the zoo charges for other special events (Boo at the Zoo is $20/person with the FONZ discount)-why is this "special event" free? Start charging or don;t allow anyone under the age of 16 in the zoo with a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the zoo charges for other special events (Boo at the Zoo is $20/person with the FONZ discount)-why is this "special event" free? Start charging or don;t allow anyone under the age of 16 in the zoo with a parent.

You mean "without a parent."

I think that the Boo at the Zoo event provides a template for what to do, including the FONZ discount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the zoo charges for other special events (Boo at the Zoo is $20/person with the FONZ discount)-why is this "special event" free? Start charging or don;t allow anyone under the age of 16 in the zoo with a parent.

Otherwise it is equivalent to a poll tax.

If they can afford it, they cannot then charge money if its for an alterior motive.

[Anonymous]

I posted on this question earlier. If the violence happened outside of the zoo boundaries, neither tickets nor metal detectors will help. The idea of refocusing for elementary aged children is a good one but I don't know if that refocus will be enough to keep violent teens away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted on this question earlier. If the violence happened outside of the zoo boundaries, neither tickets nor metal detectors will help. The idea of refocusing for elementary aged children is a good one but I don't know if that refocus will be enough to keep violent teens away.

What's your suggestion?

[Anonymous]

I'm honestly not sure. Also, I no longer live in the Woodley Park area, nor am I an employee of the zoo, nor a member of the AA community. I think it's up to members of those three communities to determine a path moving forward. What do they want to do with this event? Do they want to save it, transform it, redesign it? Does anyone know or is it too soon to know the plans for 2015?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm honestly not sure. Also, I no longer live in the Woodley Park area, nor am I an employee of the zoo, nor a member of the AA community. I think it's up to members of those three communities to determine a path moving forward. What do they want to do with this event? Do they want to save it, transform it, redesign it? Does anyone know or is it too soon to know the plans for 2015?

The folks in power don't want to discuss it until later. They hope you'll forget about what happened, and will allow business as usual. Then when it's "time" to discuss it, they'll say,
"Ooops, too late to make any improvements."
You watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm honestly not sure. Also, I no longer live in the Woodley Park area, nor am I an employee of the zoo, nor a member of the AA community. I think it's up to members of those three communities to determine a path moving forward. What do they want to do with this event? Do they want to save it, transform it, redesign it? Does anyone know or is it too soon to know the plans for 2015?

The folks in power don't want to discuss it until later. They hope you'll forget about what happened, and will allow business as usual. Then when it's "time" to discuss it, they'll say,
"Ooops, too late to make any improvements."
You watch.

Yep. This is stuff folks in power (including Jeff) want to sweep under the rug. It's an ugly topic. There will probably be another incident next year or the year after, and people still won't want to discuss. Easier to pretend about what's happening than address any root causes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted on this question earlier. If the violence happened outside of the zoo boundaries, neither tickets nor metal detectors will help. The idea of refocusing for elementary aged children is a good one but I don't know if that refocus will be enough to keep violent teens away.

How is it still " family day" if you are trying to segregate out teenage children from family's? They are somebody's children too.

Segregation isn't the answer.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Yep. This is stuff folks in power (including Jeff) want to sweep under the rug. It's an ugly topic. There will probably be another incident next year or the year after, and people still won't want to discuss. Easier to pretend about what's happening than address any root causes.

I didn't realize I was in power. But, if there is one power I have, it would be to stop discussions of this sort on DCUM. Therefore, it is strange that you would make such a claim on the 20th page of the 4th or 5th thread on this topic. The event is not held again until next April. The authorities always begin planning in the Fall -- six months or so before the event. Those of you who want everything resolved this week -- particularly those of you who make ludicrous claims such as the above -- only make yourself look a little crazy.

BTW, two teens and a man were shot earlier this week outside Ballou High School. All of you crime fighters who claimed earlier that your concern was not limited to your neighborhood apparently forgot to start a flurry of threads about the incident.