First gun shot death of 2009

The City of Wilmington Police Department has set up a system to allow witnesses to text message them with anonymous tips. The tip is sent to a main server that is not associated with any police agency. The Internet-based systems route messages through a server that encrypts cell phone numbers before they get to police, making tips virtually impossible to track. With the server stripping the text of any identifying information before sending the tip to the police department for which it was intended. How It Works: Text TIP708 and your message to CRIMES (274637). Your message must begin with TIP708. When your message is received at CRIMES, your name and cell phone number will be stripped from the message before it is forwarded to the Police Department. Text a Tip is totally anonymous. Text your tip in and help make our community a safer place to live. I understand that it seems perposterous for a dozen and a half witnesses to claim they know who killed this boy, and yet not come forward. However, did anyone ever reflect on the fact that these community members may be scared for their own lives if they do come forward? I do not condone their lack of action, however here is an alternative to help solve this case, and keep EVERYONE safe. Help the local Law Enforcers do their job, if you have ANY information for them on this case, or any other's putting your neighbors, friends, or loved one's in danger- You Can Help. Just Text A Tip.

To the family: may God comfort you and strengthen you in the days ahead as you deal with the loss of your loved one! My hope is that whomever did this will be caught and for those who witnessed it, you will step forward and be the decent human being you should be, and get this person or persons off of the street and in jail where they belong. This family has suffered a tremendous loss which can never be replaced, but at least if the person is caught, tried, and convicted, they will have a sense of justice for this young man.

I am saddened and distraught by the comment in this story which states that neighbors are aware who killed this kid, but won't talk. If this is an accurate comment, this community, and I mean the African American community, needs to step up to the plate and honestly address this issue. What is wrong with you? Your brothers and sisters are being brought down by violence, and you say nothing? It's time to stop blaming everyone else and begin empowering, and not enabling the next generation. Yes, blacks have been persecuted and treated unfairly in the past (an understatement), but it's time to move forward. A small percentage of the black population are casting a shadow on the entire black race, and holding them hostage. I would expect the NAACP to work with the neighorhood on identifying the shooter and shooters so they can be held accountable. This is not a problem which can be addressed outside of the race, it must come from within.

My heart and prayers go out to this family.Parents need to step up and be aware of your child surroundings. My son is 17 and as long as he's living in my house he's going by my rules and yes I check the people he call his friends. If I find out one thing about the kids and I feel like it's trouble I let him Know to leave it alone. Trouble is easy to get into and hard to get out of. When you living in a neighborhood you suppose to look out for one another. If you guys living in the neighborhood and know who killed this child regardless of his pass you need to let the police know. If the shoe was on the other foot wouldn't you want the community to help solve the murder of your love one if they knew who the shooter was.Talk to your kids about gangs and other things going on in this world. Take them to church, spend quality time with them and stop letting them do whatever they want to make them happy.I have realized alot of parents let the kids do whatever they want once they reach a certain age. Parents please stop and look at the things thats happening when you let them do whatever they want.May god bless this family and please community come forth and let the police know who the killer was. How can you sleep at night knowing that you know who murdered a child of god? Yes, I said a child of god.He belonged to god although the devil might of captured his mind for a moment.Regardless if it's a family member of yours or not they took a childs life. Yes they are somebodys child but this mother will have to visit her child at a cemetary. The devil is busy and kids please make a change in your life because you are not promised tomorrow.

This is what is wrong people. The parents are so swept away with living a lifestyle wrought with avarice they just forget about raising the kids right and the next thing you know the grandparents end up raising the kid and by the time the child is a teenager they pass away or just have no life left in them to give so the kid looks to the thugs on the street for a family value that they just will not get from the actual parents at home. All of a sudden a car comes streaking by and the kid is gunned down in front of a dozen witnesses that will not tell the only people that can help them, the police, who did it due to the fact their kid is probably one of the ones who performed the drive by. Kids killing kids and it it will only keep getting worse until we as a community start raising these children and stop being so wrapped up in our own affairs. Be a stronger community and inform your neighbor that it is time to take a stand for the future of our once great nation and take back the children from the streets. Make these so called "Thugs" pay for their parents failure to raise them right and the fact that they are too ignorant to make a stand for their own benefit. Make the extra effort and LOVE THY NEIGHBOR!