Christine
You failed to mention time and place of each of these tragic shootings. And some other details that were in earlier stories

Surprised that the word "parents" is no where in the article. My first big question would be "what are the parents doing about gangs in Evanston?". Don't look to the police and the mayor to keep your kids out of trouble.

I am seriously considering a move to Wilmette in the next few years before my son starts high school - I know that he won't be involved in gangs but I am worried about the impression this makes on the other kids -maybe it doesn't because the school is so large. I really want to give it a chance but I think I would rather just give up and move out which is sad as we have loved living in Evanston the past 10 years - I guess I might as well have stayed in Chicago where I was living before my son was born....the schools there have improved a lot!

Christine, here is a research questions for you. How many of the social workers in D65 and D202 are hired for nine months and how many for twelve? Most, I believe are given nine month contracts, and then are not present as school employees working in the community during the summer months. What if this were changed? What if the community decided that these important jobs should be permanent full-time jobs with the expectation that the school social workers would be doing family visits, outreach in the neighborhoods, working the church pastors, leading parenting workshops for those with at-risk youth, showing up downtown Evanston on a Friday night and talking with the kids outside the movie theater. Has there ever been a summit meeting where every social worker from D65, D202, the YMCA and churches have been required and paid to attend? How closely do they work together and do they have the time during the school year to create relationships. Many of the shooters over the last few years have been our own, Evanston kids having gone through our schools. Were they known to the social workers or were their families known? What can we learn from their experiences over periods of time? We certainly have the school records, we have the names and the arrest records and the convictions. Is anyone doing this research?

With regard to your 2nd question regarding the banning of guns: 2nd Amendment: the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Do you think banning guns would have prevented either of the shootings? Was the gun that killed Dajae legally owned by the accused shooter? I find it hard to believe that banning guns would stop any of these shootings. Didn't Chicago have a ban on hand guns for many years? It didn't seem to curb any of the violence....

you might instead ask why isn't there better parenting in these communities. we likely will be moving out of evanston before our daughter reaches middle school. the thug families can have it, and once they completely have it you won't be able to give properties away in evanston or skokie. enjoy. enjoy.

Christine, with respect to your question, "--I'm not a lawyer, so I need someone to explain to me why the Mayor's hands are tied when it comes to banning guns in Evanston", there is that little thing called the Constitution. Just like Evanston's mayor can't suspend the First Amendment in Evanston, she also can't suspend the Second Amendment.

Assume, though, for a second that she could "ban guns" in Evanston. Think long and hard about what the actual effect of that would be. Do you seriously think gang members, who are already breaking existing gun laws and various other laws, would somehow follow the new gun ban? Of course they wouldn't. A gun ban would have no effect on the actual people committing these crimes. It would only give naive, liberal-minded people a temporary sense of security.

While there are certainly questions to ask of the Evanston police, I'm taken aback by the questions you have not asked. Instead of looking to failed government solutions to create a peaceful community, you need to ask questions about the families raising these gang members and of the culture they grow up on. Those are the determinative factors that decide what a young kid wants to do with their life. Don't be afraid to consider these out of political correctness. Now is a time for the community involved in these shootings to do some reflection and take responsibility, rather than using the same failed "gun bans" and other government solutions.

Dan C, you're absolutely right about guns getting into the wrong hands no matter what the laws are. But I don't believe, as you say, that "a gun ban would have no effect on the actual people committing these crimes." I believe it might deter people from obtaining guns in the first place. Not everyone, but some. And some is better than none. Maybe that someone might have been Justin Murray's shooter (or the person he obtained the gun from in the first place). But guns are only part of the problem -- focused on in this article because that's how the two boys were shot. Other components are certainly socioeconomic, and I'm in no way afraid to consider them. I recently interviewed attorney/author Lisa Bloom about her book SWAGGER ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3s07kSji2w ) in which she talks about the way communities are responsible for and can help eliminate the "thug" culture.

Incidentally, I've just had a lengthy conversation with Chief Eddington of the Evanston Police Department about all these issues and will share his comments with you very soon.

Christine, thank you for your article. It is clear that emotions are high and people have elected to run past your title "How do we MOVE forward" vs. playing the blame game. I am a family member of Dajae and the shooter in this case came from a good family with sound morals. The issue that still remains from the time I graduated from ETHS in 95' to now is how do we as a community respond to the young people who choose to or are drafted into a negative/violent lifestyle.

Young people usually show signs of at risk behavior at an early age that manifest in poor decisions or aggression yet they are punished without proper interevention. It takes the intentionality of non-family members to assist in this process. All of us can point back to a non-family member who was instrumental in our lives at some point that helped us along the way. Also this generation is more media driven than we were so we (family, school personnel, church members, neighbors, etc.) have to be even more viligent in our quest to interact with them face to face, to love on them and not to shun them. Sure you can leave Evanston for self-presevation reasons but your child will still interact with children from this city and many more who have fallen through the cracks of our disproportional system. Although I don't reside in Evanston I particpated in the anti-violence meeting and I am working with others in Evanston to turn vacant houses around the high school into save havens. How will you help out?

Evanston Mom, you're right that I'm naive and (often) simplistic...thus my questions, including the one in which I ask, "Why isn't there a greater police presence around the area surrounding the high school?" I spoke with Chief Eddington of the Evanston Police Dept this afternoon who seconded your comment about there being a very strong police presence in the area surrounding the high school. I did didn't know that, but not because I am well-to-do (I am?). I didn't know because, as you said, I do not live in the neighborhood. What I've done from afar is not so much "cluck" about these shootings but rather to ask questions that don't have answers to. I think I speak for many Evanston residents who do not live in the neighborhood when I say I plan on staying here...and I plan on helping if I can...but I need to understand why the violence around the high school continues. You're also correct in that I might not be as vocal about this issue if the crimes had happened in South Evanston, but I'd certainly hope someone with ties to that area would speak up. You say, "There are murders every year in Evanston. This is not new." You're absolutely right, but don't you want it to stop? A gun ban may not be the answer...but what is?

Regarding banning guns in Evanston: Guns were banned in Evanston. In 2008, however, the Supreme Court ruled that blanket bans were a violation of the 2nd Amendment. Evanston was forced to change its ordinance at that time.

Also, the NRA was suing Evanston because of the ban against guns, and it would have cost us a considerable amount to defend.

A resident named Bev has given me permission to post this comment, initially sent directly to me after the article posted:

Dear Christine, I appreciate your sensitivity to the killings in Evanston. Many communities are having some success with mentoring programs in which young adults are trained to go into high schools or neighborhoods with crime problems and work with local residents, and especially teens, to improve their conflict resolution abilities. We're in Evanston, with one of the top universities as a neighbor. For a future column I suggest you approach NU and ask whether the school has a mentoring program or could develop one for the community. Meanwhile if you do a Google search of mentoring programs reducing teen crime you'll find a lot of resources. Cordially, Bev

This series of comments has degenerated into lets kill the messenger. The writer is just asking the questions that we all need answers to. It continually amazes me that whenever a youth gets killed there is always one person saying that the killer comes from a good family. What does that mean? I am hard pressed to believe that family members are not aware that little Johnny is not quite the angel that he appears to be. Johnny has a gun, and a record of violence, yet when he pulls the trigger there is surprise. I read in Sundays Tribune that the families were feuding. Huh? If this is true, then the problem goes deeper than banning guns, and buying them back. No amount of police presence can solve the deep rooted stupidity of feuding families. This will not stop with Justins death.

Yes Seymour Taylor ! ,back in the 80's I'm a 1980 graduate of E.T.H.S., Evanston Gangs (Scony Hoodz,Black Mob) morphed into Chicago gangs, due to those local gang members incarceration in the I.D.O.C. and the subsequent (FORCED) alliance or membership that comes with a jail sentence, Howard street at the border of both cities has the same elements & organizations as the south & west sides of the Chicago, (thankfully) less violence, but 1 incident is too many, what I'm saying is the childeren in Evanston that are, and have committed these heinous crimes are usually son's ,nephews,grandsons even daughters of predicate felons who are from & still live in Evanston!!! I salute Seymour and other readers who identify the PARENTS

FOOTNOTE example,the Bamberg gentleman who was aquitted of the 2010 Murder is a cousin of Justin Murray,I'm not saying or implying that Justin was a gang memebr or associate he was'nt!!, but those angry at the EPD's "gang related" assessment need to realize that the address of the incident & possibly some individuals who reside there , also the manner of this murder are similar to what happens in Cook County & nationwide, Justin was visiting a family member(s) who are "alleged" to be involved in gangs, unfortunately he beared the brunt of igorance & brutality which comes with "those who live that lifestyle"

Christine, I want to clarify that my question at the end of my previous comment was not directed to you personally.
David & others, Parents are not blameless in most cases nor in these two cases, however the community at large has a moral responsibility to assist folks that are in need. What happens if parents are non-existent or have issues of their own that inhibits their ability to parent in a responsible manner? If we all sit back and use intellectualization as a solution to this epidemic of violence we have failed our youth.There are multifaceted needs present that are being ignored or discounted. As a parent I am ultimately responsible for the actions of my children until they can divide right from wrong. Once this emerges then there is shared responsibility and some youth choose to do wrong while receiving hands-on, responsible parenting yet there is purpose in their choice. Far too often we fail to engage OUR youth in discovering the root of the problem when risk factors are evident. It is a shame that prejudice beliefs have taken flight and stop us from exploring and engaging in SOLUTIONS to the violence that has taken some youth captive. Try being part of the solution vs. a critic
As far as the "gang related" title that the police and media use before a thorough investigation has been completed..That may be too deep for some folks to try to comprehend the racial implications that are assoicated with it. Notice that this term in soley used in the black community!

I have tried 4 or 5 times to comment, but here is an idea! I have worked with Evanston disadvantages youth for 30 years. Lets think out the box! Evanston want to be one if not the leader in the green movement in this country. Why not do two things at once? You have an old leaking, energy wasting housing stock and a lost hurting large population of unemployed untrained young adults n teens, Why not insulate your leaking housing stock using your lost and untrained too do it!! You cut your towns cost on so many levels!! The energy cost and the lost people cost. hmmm? how hard could it be to put together, a wealthy lakefront and north Evanston could be the start, then we find some fed dollars to do the rest!! We already know we cant arrest our way to safety!! Just a thought!!

And just so no one forgets we are all the parents of all kids GOOD AND BAD!!

David-Thanks for being open to my point(s).

Dan C-Being the parent of all kids is what helps a community thrive and remain healthy. If we see an injustice or something that is morally wrong we can step in and "act like parent" to that young person for that moment. I ask young men all the time to pull their pants up when I see them saggin. They respond well because I ask them with respect, ask questions about their lives and families and I shed light on how others may view them. That is what we mean by "parenting" because those are teachable moments but we have to take the risk of stepping outside of our comfort zones.

Lonnie-If it had not been for you, Herman, Ms. Holmes and others at the Family Focus community center I am not sure where I would be. Folks tried to recruit me into the neighborhood gang but the Boys to Men choir, basketball games and our daily rap sessions (discussions about real life) helped to keep me in check.

I am a nephew, cousin, and a brother of men who have been incarcerated at some point but I benefited greatly because my church, family and community offered me alternatives to the crimes I witnessed. Mentoring programs are great but they only work when there are people willing to recruit the youth that are at risk. The youth that we have been discussing in this post most likely are not going to self-refer themselves. We have to engage them and help to take them out of the streets before the streets take them out of the schools.