The city violent crime rate for Cleveland in 2009 was higher than the national violent crime rate average by 224.96 percent and the city property crime rate in Cleveland was higher than the national property crime rate average by 88.22 percent.

By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter

LaTaevia Williams, a 14-year-old Black female was shot early Sunday morning around 12:40 a.m. near E. 125 and Elberon. The preliminary investigation reveals that the victim was in attendance at a party at 16005 Elberon.

An argument occurred at the party between other attendees and some individuals outside, bringing those from inside out into the street. At that time, shots were fired toward the group (It is believed that there was more than one shooter) and Williams was fatally struck in the neck.

The victim was transported toMetroHealthMedicalCenterwhere she succumbed to her injuries. Also injured in this incident was a 15-year-old Black male, also shot in the neck and reported to be confined at Metro. One adult female, one adult male and one juvenile male were also victims of gunshot wounds and were treated and released from Metro.

LaTaevia Williams had just recently attended a rally to pay her respects to Ibrahim Abdul-Haqq who was shot in a senseless drive-by shooting.

“What was so deep, is that it cost one person her life, and may claim another victim and will land at least one person in jail for the rest of their lives? 14 [is] too young to lose your life for nonsense,” said Peace in the Hood organization leaderKhalid Samad.

The days of having a fist fight one day and being friends the next day is a thing of the past, with almost everyone carrying a gun now to solve any differences. It’s sad to know that not only are there teens being killed but some are much younger.

Rev. Al Sharpton recently called for the start of a new “occupy” movement to take over the streets of New York City where he is trying to bring communities out to reclaim safety in their neighborhoods.

This movement was brought about with the senseless killing of Lloyd Morgan, a 4-year-old who was shot and killed last Sunday in a Bronxplayground and Isaiah Rivera a 3-year-old who was grazed by a bullet while playing in a Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood park. “We need to stand up and tell everyone that enough is enough, we need to show love and respect to each other,” Sharpton said.

The number of murders in New York is at 228 as of July 22, compared to 270 in 2011. At one time, LA seemed to be the place for a lot of gun violence among the younger people with drive-bys and gang-related shootings. Now many in the Chicago area are wondering when will the killings end in their city.

While Cleveland homicides number 42 so far this year, Chicago’s are up by 31 percent from a year ago, and the shootings have increased as well due to gun violence. As of July 22, 293 people had been killed in 2012, mostly in shootings. While it’s not known if the 69 additional deaths compared to this same time in 2011 are gang related, it has become clear that it’s out of control.

“Clevelandis becoming a war zone, what’s wrong with these young people, why is the main concern on their minds seem to be killing each other?,” said Samad.

Information provided by CityRating.com shows Cleveland crime statistics report an overall downward trend in crime based on data collected over 11 years, with violent crime increasing and property crime decreasing. Based on this trend, the crime rate in Cleveland for 2012 is expected to be lower than in 2009.

The city violent crime rate for Cleveland in 2009 was higher than the national violent crime rate average by 224.96 percent and the city property crime rate in Cleveland was higher than the national property crime rate average by 88.22 percent.

The Call & Post tried talking to the Williams family, but the mother has been overwhelmed, and unable to give her perspective on losing her daughter at the hands of senseless gun violence.

There is still no suspect information available at this time. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.