(Memphis) A big brawl in the Berclair area is bringing a bigger issue to light. People say the area is overrun with gang violence.
People who’ve lived there all their lives say they’ve seen a rapid decline recently and they wish police would do more.
One of the trouble spots? An apartment complex near Macon and Berclair.
People were in police cars, but all of them were released after a huge brawl at the Macon Manor Apartments Sunday afternoon.
“Bunch of fights,” said a man being released from handcuffs. “Some dumb people acting dumb.”
Memphis police let everyone go after witnesses say gunshots went off, two people were stabbed and others were hit with sticks.
“I even got hit,” said Terese Meyers.
The violence happened even with small children around.
“My grand kids were involved,” said Linda Conely. “One is 8 months and the other is 2 years old.”
They say this is a way of life on Macon Road because gangs are in control.
“GD, Crips, Vice Lords, all of them,” said Shauntel Meyers.
“Ganger Disciples, Crips and Vice Lords, and they all came out for this?” asked reporter Sabrina Hall.
“They all came out for this,” said Meyers.
Meyers says most upsetting is that more than 30 people took part in the brawl and she believes no one will face charges.
“About 20 of them and 16 of us,” said Sauntel.
“How many people got arrested?” asked Hall.
“None!” she said. “It doesn’t make any sense though because police need to do something about this because somebody is going to lose their life.”
She says death is always a possibility for those left behind when police clear the scene.
“It is too scary because you don’t know if you are going to live or if you are going to die today,” said Meyers. “It just don’t make no sense.”
They say it’s difficult to make sense of a place where people are either fighting gangs or joining them.
We made a call to the 901 Bloc Squad, the group of men hired by the mayor to combat gun violence in Frayser and in South Memphis, and while this is not their district, they say they plan to stop by the apartment complex on Macon Road to see if there is anything they can do to help quell the gang violence in the neighborhood.
