MEMPHIS, Tenn. — What happened in the Kroger parking lot on Highland Avenue over the weekend has many asking what is it going to take to get young people under control?
The video of teens on the attack disturbed many people. Jimmy Chambers, the gang investigator who visits schools to try to steer kids away from gangs, was livid.
“I was pissed off. I wasn’t surprised I was pissed. It’s going over and over again. Here we go again. Here we go again,” Chambers said.
Last year, WREG talked with a man who had been beaten by a group of teens in the same parking lot. They threw things at his car and surrounded him.
Chambers says its time to get tough.
“It’s time out for talking. Let’s let these juveniles know we got some real grown ups that run this city,” Chambers said.
He says Fam Mob members have been rejected by other gangs, and these attacks are to get attention.
A special Multi-Agency Gang Unit has been going after gangs. WREG rode along with them and showed you their work last year.
District Attorney Amy Weirich says Fam Mob may require a new approach, but one thing is the same.
“Parents need to make sure kids are in school everyday on time and when they are out of school, parents need to be parents,” Weirich said.
“You don’t want it to come to folks carrying weapons and shooting children. You don’t want that. That’s something we don’t want. A solution needs to come and it needs to come like yesterday,” Chambers said.
He says if it doesn’t, the kids will end up in a body bag.
Prosecutors say with a new gang enhancement penalty, they’ll go after gang suspects to the fullest extent of the law.
The penalty increases the punishment for gang activity. Parents can also be held accountable for their kid’s actions.
