Gang-related music videos driving gun violence in DC: report
WASHINGTON - A new report claims D.C. gang members making music videos taunting their rivals on social media are the primary drivers of gun violence in the nation's capital.
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council – an independent government agency – interviewed more than 70 Metropolitan Police Department officers and Violence Interrupters.
The Gun Violence Problem Analysis Narrative Summary Report also reveals that most suspects who commit homicides have been arrested about 10 times beforehand.
Justice Department announces new resources to combat violent crime in DC
The Justice Department announced Friday a set of new resources to help combat violent crime in Washington, D.C., where crime rates have surged in recent years.
The council says there has been an extraordinary increase in the number of juveniles involved in homicides and shootings.
On Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed prosecuting more juveniles in the District.
"We think a lot of things need to change. We think for example, that we need to have greater prosecution of juveniles. We have seen our kids become more violent at younger ages and have less accountability." Mayor Bowser said.
D.C.'s Attorney General Brian Schwalb is responsible for prosecuting juveniles. A spokesperson for Schwalb's Office pushed back on the mayor Tuesday, saying they prosecute 85% of gun possession cases involving a minor and 65% of carjacking cases.
"Finger-pointing and playing the blame game will not improve public safety. The Office of the Attorney General is laser-focused on using the law to make D.C. safer. This includes prosecuting juveniles and holding them accountable when they commit crimes, which we do for every serious offense where there is sufficient evidence to prove a case," the attorney general's spokesperson said. "Prosecution, by definition, takes place after a crime has occurred, and to truly make the District safer, we need to focus on stopping crime before it occurs. OAG will continue to do its job. All District agencies and systems – education, housing, health care, rehabilitative services, economic development and job training – must also do their part in providing the critical supports and resources needed to prevent crime from happening in the first place. Prevention efforts cannot replace effective policing and prosecution, but are equally necessary in order to make DC safer now and in the long run."
Read the full Gun Violence Problem Analysis Narrative Summary Report here.
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