Many frustrated with Muskegon violence

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) - After two deadly shootings in the past few days, residents in one Muskegon Heights neighborhood are fed up, they told 24 Hour News 8 on Monday. Some are scared to go outside.

"If I find someplace to stay, I'm moving, because it's not safe out here," resident Shantel Sharp said. "Not even for the kids to be out here playing and they doing all this shooting -- it's too close to home."

The violence is getting out of control, people say. Four victims have died in four weeks, with the latest shooting Monday morning in Muskegon Heights. Jeremy Lawrence, 23, was shot to death around 3 a.m. while sitting inside a Cadillac near Fifth and Summit.

A SWAT team swarmed the area looking for suspects Monday afternoon, but no arrest was made.

Some residents say the outbreak is from rival gangs, and others say it's frustration over money. Regardless of the reasons, the community is trying to find a way to stop the violence.

"We need more police officers," resident Darryl Williams said. "(We need) more than the Heights police to do something, because everything is getting out of hand, man."

Last week, a 16-year-old was shot and killed while driving a black SUV in the 3100 block of Eighth Street.

Muskegon Heights City Council members spoke out about the recent rash of violence at Monday's meeting.

"Well, you got gangs downtown and you got gangs out here," city councilwoman Dorothy Scott said. "And that's where the rivalry is."

She stressed some of the perpetrators are from outside Muskegon Heights but ride the streets there, looking for their enemies. And they have the firepower to commit the crimes, she said.

"These 16-, 17-, 18-year-olds have guns," Scott said. "They have uzis. Where are they getting them from?"

Police Chief Lynne and the mayor said without all the facts, they can't say for sure if the shootings are gang related, but they agree with Scott -- the only way to solve crimes and stop the violence is for parents to monitor their children's activities and for residents to break the code of silence by coming forward and reporting what they see.

"Anything you know about the crime, contact Muskegon Heights police, contact Silent Observer," Gill said. "Any information that may be a possibility, we would appreciate it."

Not all the shootings in the Muskegon area have resulted in death. One man was shot in the arm Monday.

Gill is working with the county to form a task force, he said.