For the last 2 nights, 7News has been telling you about the violent shooting incidents on or near Benbow and Supal Streets.
And while the family of these victims has their own grief and trauma to deal with, the residents of these neighborhoods are living in a sort of sustained terror, after their neighborhood has become a war zone.
One such area resident is our summer intern, Andrew Munnings. The Wesley College fourth former was friendly with two of the recent murder victims. He told us that it is painful to see his peers lives cut short by gun violence and explained what it is like living in a violent community such as Benbow Street:
Daniel Ortiz
"Mr. Munnings, what area of the city do you live in sir?"
Andrew Munnings
"I live in the south side area right now. That was the area that I grew up in."
Daniel Ortiz
"What street exactly?"
Andrew Munnings
"Currently I am on Benbow Street."
Daniel Ortiz
"What is it like to be in an area that is currently under gang warfare?"
Andrew Munnings
"To tell you the truth it's not only in that area that I have a fear of, going to the shop and those kinds of things - it's probably the whole city. We always hear it on the news, so it's nothing that no one know about but to know that its young people who are dying - some of them who hasn't even start their life yet, then that would bother anybody like myself. As a youth you can't even walk to the shop because all kinds of things runs through you mind like will I come back home and will this be the last time that I step foot outside."
Daniel Ortiz
"Do you know any of these people who have been killed - the last couple victims?"
Andrew Munnings
"If I tell you I don't then I'll be telling a lie. They are people that I went to school with but to know them personally - they are good people - young men who are just trying to live life then to have someone else come and just cut it short, that has to be pain."
"The other day one of my best friends just got killed. I know his family is moving out from the neighborhood, so that's a big loss for the family and the fear its right there."
While Supal and Benbow Streets have been much in the news for the two teenagers murdered, and the 11 and 18 year old who were shot - there have been many other shooting reported in the area in the past six weeks or so.
Additionally, early on Saturday morning the police Special Patrol Unit detained one man who they believe was going to shoot up the area - while another escaped.
That led the same unit to go to the Pinto house looking for Keron Pinto - who they mistakenly named as Kenton Pinto.
Another recent hotspot has been La Croix Boulevard behind the Government complex building. Last night there was another shooting there - at least the fifth since May. The victim is 19 year old Randy August. Around 8:20 last night, August and a friend were riding on separate bicycles when a man exited a yard and fired several shots at him. August was shot twice - once to the right side of his chest and once to the right forearm. He was rushed to the KHMH where we were told he is in the Trauma Room. So far police are looking for one named suspect.
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