Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 1, 1995, Winnipeg, Manitoba Inside Story Winnipeg free press August Sanctuary under attack Mossbrook House helps teens nuns say by Bruce Owen staff reporter Calls for the closing of an intercity drop in Centre where a youth was shot Early sunday Are fuelled by dangerous one of the nuns operating the Centre said think that with the level of Vio that theres an insanity to said sister Bernadette with this certain level of Vio no one is Safe from no matter where you Oreilly and sister Lesley Saccuman both added that just because Mossbrook House functions As a 24hour drop in Centre for area there is no reason for area residents to fear an Esca lation in similar gang some residents claim because the Centre attracts so Many gangs May frequent it More often to target Safe Haven offered a1 that place is so said neigh Bor John i heard the shots and in not surprised what Hap the people who run it just dont know what there it should be closed those peo ple could have shot inno cent a 15yearold boy was hit in the Back of the head by Buckshot from a Shotgun blast after he Dove for cover when two masked gunman got out of a car and opened fire in front of Mossbrook House about the boy was treated in Hospital and the shooting followed the killing of 13yearold Joseph Spence a week gunned Down at Flora Avenue and Robinson a 15yearold has been charged with first degree murder in spences death and the police Street gang unit is helping to investigate the most recent despite the Oreilly and Saccuman say Mossbrook House is a Safe Haven for kids who dont want to join gangs or hang out on the the kids who come Here Are making a positive Choice and Are not roaming the Saccuman this is a Neutral place for two teens lounging on the front Steps said they enjoy going to Mossbrook House at All hours to talk to friends and shoot it keeps kids out of one of them Saccuman also said the unlike civic and provincial social offers employment and education Al counselling for to give them a Chance to focus their creativity and the Sisters also said the Resi dents calling for Mossbrooks clo sure Are in the they said people have been Quick to offer clothing and support so that the Centre can continue to be an Oasis for intercity theres an african saying that goes it takes a whole Village to raise one Oreilly theres an increase in violence that affects every person in society and its not just the inner City and one Community that has to Deal with its the whole its the Ron executive director of the provinces child and family support said Ross Brook House offers a unique ser vice to the Sanctuary the reality is Mossbrook House is an important resource to the he it is a Sanctuary for Many both Sisters also said the 15year old shot Early sunday was not involved in gang but a kid who chose to hang around Ross Brook House instead of getting involved in about 30 to 40 kids attend the Centre on any Given kids in gangs Are not allowed to Wear gang colors into the there out there on the streets at two in the Saccuman there is a differ ent lifestyle in the inner City because Many people Are Unzem so they stay up late because they dont have anywhere to go in the and that not to say its a bad its just different Here in the inner Jeff de free press Sisters Prelly left and Saccuman say it is foolish to link Mossbrook which provides services for to a Rise in gang violence in the inner guns and knives used in violent crime spree police in Winnipeg Are fighting increasingly Brash and violent crimes linked to youth some recent july takes Shotgun pellets to shoulder and head from two males wearing ski escapes with minor july Friend Joseph killed by Shotgun blast from a15yearold is charged with first degree police say killing is gang May 7 an 18yearold is stabbed in Abdomen in an attack by at least seven victim but police investigate whether he is linked to april 2 a 13yearold takes Shotgun pellets to shoulders and Chest after a male lets off two blasts through window of boys youngster escapes with minor police say crime is Case of mistaken identity by gang from Auto theft to murder Canadian press what began As kids stealing cars for Joy rides has escalated into a serious crime problem with police laying charges from violent assault to Mur the Winnipeg police services gang unit has Laid 50 charges since june against people involved in Street gangs formed for the Pur pose of committing the squad was appointed that month to Cope with the grow ing police say the City is not alone when it comes to roaming packs of potential teen everybody has their its just that we have some that Are More pronounced right Ron Wurster said the latest incident happened when Eugene was shot in the head and shoulder after two males wearing masks drove up in front of a youth drop in Centre where he and other boys were the two got out and opened fire and Greene ran for escaping with minor police say Greene was friends with Joseph who was gunned Down from a car a week ago in what officers called a Gan related a 15yearold has been charged with first degree murder in the Spence police forces across the country Are increasingly taking aim against youth gangs involved in crimes that Range from car theft to Home breaking and Protection major cities such As Montreal and Vancouver have been dealing with gangs for the in Street gangs began coming to police attention in problems there include intimidating people into paying for beating up passersby and steal ing their jackets or ripping off gangs might also be involved in prostitution and drug police in Vancouver where police have had a gang squad for More than five years More than people belong to about 20 organized crime Many of them comprised of we have a relatively Large number of incidents compared to five years said Nick i would say one of the areas Ive seen an increase in Are Home invasions and More violent gangs in Many cities Are often based on ethnic including asian gangs in Vancouver and aboriginal gangs in win Winnipeg most notorious and Well Stab listed is the Indian posse formed in the basement of a 14yearolds Home six years Winnipeg police estimate there Are now 300 to 500 gang members in the belong ing to Between eight and 12 Wurster said members Range in age from 12 to 45 and Are responsible for millions of dollars in crime each including a 170 per cent increase in car theft Between 1992 shootings tied to escalating War Over turf by Paul Wiecek police reporter City police suspect a drive by shooting Early exactly one week to the hour after the fatal shooting of 13year old Joseph is part of an escalating and misguided turf War Between two rival intercity officers believe Spence and 15 year old Eugene who was wounded Early were inno cent victims in a Battle for turf Between the Indian posse and an upstart gang known As nine police believe Spence was shot by a deuces associate about july 23 after he was Mistak enly identified As a member of Indian a 15yearold male is facing murder police believe Greene was shot at sunday in retaliation for the Spence but investigators Are puzzled because Greene has no known connections to deuces and even reportedly had a Friendship with were dealing with people who Arent always Jack head of the homicide offered an investigator said local Street gangs have grown increasingly chaotic with some Mem Bers switching gang allegiances from Day to Day while others declare themselves gang members without Ever checking with the gangs there not like the spartans and los an officer referring to the local biker there so i dont know that you can even Call them the officer that that Doest mean officers Are Dis counting the officer said the Lack of Organiza Tion coupled with their Large arse nals makes them All that much More another officer said the dispute Between Indian posse and nine deuces centres on Indian posse has traditionally controlled the lord Selkirk area Northeast of the Slaw Bebchuk Bridge but expanded its control South of the Bridge when the Over lords effectively disbanded earlier this that expansion is being challenged by nine who Rose up in the void created by the Over lords police say there were a string of assaults and shootings involving the two gangs in the months Lead ing up to the Spence beginning Winnipeg free press sunday july the along with Kiwi be awarding weekend passes to Selkirk Sun country Jam every Day until August simply Call the Winnipeg free press contest Tine at Call in contest grand prize to Register your name and to identify the qx104 pm Sun country song of the Calls will be taken from 7 am11 pm winners will be declared daily and notified by Telephone and All winners names wiil appear in the Winnipeg free press after the if you entries May be dropped off Between 9 am2 pm daily at the free press building in the Sun country contest leave your phone Date and song of the Day to be listen to four front Row grandstand seats for the Sun country Jam use of a motor Home for the Courtesy of cd Library of your favorite country stars appearing at the will be charged per minute on Ihler phone callers must be 18 years of age or older to Call or have their parents Call As often As you All Calls and entries i i received will be entered into the grand prize 1 ;