ONLY ON 3: Mayor Saffo speaks about Wilmington gang crime

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — They say it takes a village to raise a child. It’s that village, or in this case the Cape Fear community, Wilmington’s mayor says needs to step up to stop the gang violence.

Mayor Saffo sat down with WWAY to speak about the recent rash of shootings in the area this past weekend. Police believe the incidents to be gang-related and retaliatory. Saffo says everyone, including the community, police, city government, district attorney’s office, churches, schools and non-profits must work together.

Like Chief Ralph Evangelous, Saffo says the community and police must build trust between each other to solve crimes and prevent future violence.

Saffo also says prevention starts with education, from pre-school through college.

“They’re going to be good, productive citizens,” Saffo said. “They’re going to be getting jobs, they’re going to have skills, they’re going to get their education and then move forward with their lives; if not, if they’re dropping out of schools, and then they are being recruited by gang members. We’re going to end up dealing with them in the judicial system.”