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Mothers feared the worst for their sons; nightmares came true with double homicide Sunday
by Katy Reckdahl, The Times-Picayune
Thursday October 09, 2008, 9:39 PM
Durrell 'Duke' Pooler, 23Sunday's double homicide began like a mob hit: Gunmen jumped from two cars, one blocking each end of the 2500 block of St. Ann Street. More shots came from a third car in the middle.
The target, neighbors say, was Durrell "Duke" Pooler, 23, who fled but couldn't escape.
Witnesses say the gunmen fired about 40 bullets, shattering windows and peppering homes. Neighbors sprinted into doorways or dropped to the ground. One man, whose cousin had been recently slain Uptown, pushed his girlfriend and 2-month-old baby to the ground, then lay over them.
When the killers fled, Pooler lay dead on the pavement a few houses away from the body of Kendrick Sherman, 18, who by all accounts had nothing to do with Pooler.
A second bystander, Sherman's friend Bernard Taylor, 25, was shot eight times, once through the eye, but somehow lived.
Like many New Orleans parents, the mothers of both victims had long feared violence like this.
Pooler's mother, Rhonda Pooler, heard rumors that someone wanted to kill her son. She believed he had been dealing drugs.
Kendrick Sherman, 18Sherman's mother, Yolanda King, had seen no direct threat. But she had tried to shield her son from the dangers of New Orleans by keeping him for two extra years in Atlanta, where the family had been displaced.
Both young men met the same end despite their mothers' best efforts, in a manner all too familiar to the residents of the 6th Ward and elsewhere in this city.
After the barrage of gunfire, neighbors rushed from their homes to help. A gruff-voiced man known as Uncle used his medical training to apply pressure to bleeding wounds. Others tried to soothe the young men, telling them help was on its way.
Taylor was rushed to the hospital.
The coroner would retrieve the bodies of Pooler and Sherman. While Pooler's body was somewhat obscured by parked cars, Sherman lay in the open, on the edge of the street, without the orange screens that typically block bodies from view. It took officials about an hour to bring the screens. During that time, onlookers asked aloud why he was not shielded.
A woman in curlers walked up to an officer. "Can you please cover him up?" she asked. "That's somebody's child."
Sense of foreboding
Rhonda Pooler knew for months that her son was in over his head.
"You can look at your child, if you raised your child, and know that something's wrong, " she said.
For years, he came home every day for her cooking. But lately, she barely saw him.
She'd heard someone had put a price on his head. She suggested that he find new friends or go to church.
Don't worry, he'd say, "I'm not baby Duke no more."
She asked him to phone her once a day. If they hadn't spoken by nightfall, she'd call until he answered, she said.
Friends describe her as a hardworking mother who supervised hotel housekeeping crews for years and now works as a dietitian at a hospital. She and her husband own a house in the Broadmoor neighborhood.
She knows little about "the street life, " she says.
But she knew enough to know her son lived it.
As a child, he'd caused few problems and was known mostly as a mama's boy, she said.
He started slipping when he was about 18. She thinks her son first dealt drugs in the 7th Ward, where she grew up. Alerted by friends, she left work and walked the length of Frenchmen Street, a big stick in her hand, until she found him, she said.
In recent years, her son always had money but never punched a time clock, she said. He had girlfriends, but not for long. She chastised him.
"I tried to get him to see another way, " she said. "But he wanted the street life more than what I was putting in front of him."
Some of his friends had no other options, she said. Not him. "I told him, 'You chose the life, that life didn't choose you.' "
After Katrina, things got worse. He started running with a different crowd. Then a few months ago, it seemed to her that he was in too deep. Talking to him got her nowhere. So she did what she could: She cried and prayed and worried.
On Sunday after the shooting, Rhonda Pooler got a call and drove immediately to St. Ann Street. There, she walked up to the officers standing by the yellow crime-scene tape. "I believe that's my baby there, " she said.
Trying to keep him safe
Sherman's mother, Yolanda King (not the judicial candidate of the same name), shared a birthday -- Feb. 28 -- with her son. She and others described them as extremely close.
"He used to tell me everything, " she said.
Typically, on his lean 6-foot-2-inch frame, her son wore jeans with a muscle shirt to show off a line of arm tattoos that included a new Saints fleur de lis along with his name, his baby son's name, and his mother's name.
The family had been displaced in Atlanta for a year after Hurricane Katrina. After his mother returned, she persuaded him to stay with an aunt and attend school in Atlanta.
Several months ago, King found out that her son had fathered a child in New Orleans, but she didn't tell him because she wanted him to stay in Atlanta and finish his senior year of school.
When she told him about the baby three months ago, he insisted on coming to New Orleans to be a father to his son, Markeith. He planned to finish school here.
His mother wanted him to stay in Atlanta because she knew the trouble some teenagers faced in New Orleans.
In the 6th Ward, neighborhood kids had been gunned down. She remembered how he and his friends had reacted.
"All of them used to stop hanging -- they'd go inside, " she recalled. But after a while, they'd head for the door.
"You know boys, " she said. "They're going to go outside."
Praying for prison
Rhonda Pooler said she can't imagine her son being angry at anyone for long, that he squabbled with friends here and there and a few days later, everything would be forgotten.
But someone put a hit on her son for some reason.
"Who am I to sit here and say that my child never caused another parent pain?" she said.
In February, Durrell Pooler had been booked as a felon with a firearm. She planned to go with him to his court date Wednesday; he was looking at a sentence of five years, she said.
"Somewhere in my heart I felt as though I was praying for those five years, " she said.
Even on Sunday, after the shooting, she wished he'd been able to dodge his assailants until his court date.
It may be difficult for some people to understand how a mother could hope for a prison term for her son, she said.
"It would be a hard place for a mother to see a child, " she said. "But at least I would've still had him."
Sunday morning, Yolanda King had fussed at her son about girls calling late at night. He'd joked a bit, then kissed her and said, "Mom, I'm going 'round the corner. I'll be right back."
That day, King watched her grandbaby and cleaned. Her phone rang but she was busy, so she didn't answer. Then came the knocks on the door.
She drove several blocks to St. Ann Street. "And there he was, just lying there, " she said.
She described his tattoos to police officers and they confirmed that the body was her son's.
Sherman had planned to enroll at Joseph S. Clark Senior High School before homecoming, because his younger sister, Christina, had been voted Miss Freshman there and he wanted to see her big moment.
He had planned to dress Markeith as a pumpkin for Halloween. Instead, his mother and sister will pick up the costume and probably take the toddler to a Halloween party at a community center or a school.
It doesn't feel safe enough outside to take him trick-or-treating.
. . . . . . .
Katy Reckdahl can be reached at kreckdahl@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3396.
I feel so sad for this mother because even if she knew he was up to no good she didn't deserve this kind of pain. I feel worse for the mother of the kid who got caught in the crossfire. My prayers to their families.
My prayers go out to these mothers....we can only hope that these and other thugs of new orleans are dealt with severly, I think this city has lost hope in itself in dealing with the crimminal element here.the mayor sucks, and the NOPD doesnt even blink an eye..MUST BE THE MONEY
To all the families of the victims involved, I am so sorry for your loss.
This is a sad world that our children are growing up in today and no matter how much you try and protect your children it sometimes is just not enough.
I hope and pray that their killers will be caught and severely be punished.
Just know that it is God's hands and this falls under God's greater plan. I will be praying to ask God to help ease your suffering and may you find the strength in knowing that they are home with God and now you have an extra angel watching over you.
May they rest in peace!
Durrell Pooler's story should be a required cautionary tale for all young men in this town. You make choices that can kill you and they may.
New Orleans does not need or want criminals or criminal activity. And the mothers of these killers need to take their babies down to the police station and do what is necessary to get them off the street before we have more blood in the streets. It is hard to hear that you failed at raising your child but clearly, if your son has gunned down 3 people, you have failed. And sometimes you have to cry so that other mothers don't have to bury their sons.
As long as New Orleans continues to harbor the socio-economic conditions that breed
criminal activity, it will continue to have criminals who hate those conditions
and the people responsible.
It is something worse than being unemployed or poor -- it is the culture of stealing and drug traffic. A culture where the hero is a gangster. The poor aren't killers. It is the spirit in the culture -- it is contageous and it is eating souls. It is the ideology in the culture.
My God, is this what it means to grow up black in New Orleans? Has anyone figured out it might be time for a change? How many mothers and grandmothers and fathers are going to live out this story. These young men fell for the hip hop life and this is the end result. Who can be proud of this? But the sad part is, nothing will change. Tomorrow, another mother will grave for her son or daughter. And for what, to get high or to score more money.
It's up to the black community to change this. Keep up the "brand" and "style". It's your kids funeral.
Dunesriver
If we are going to be excusing people for crime because they are poor, which I think is what you are doing, then it is clear we have to change the socio-economic situation in New Orleans. To that end I propose, no more subsidized housing south of I-12.
So, here we have a story of a loving mother with a job and a son who apparently chose that lifestyle despite having been presented options. Not all of this is about "socio-economics" or blaming people who didn't pull the trigger that killed these young men. When do people take personal responsibility for the crimes they commit without someone coming in excusing them. When do people take personal responsibility for doing what is necessary to attend to their own situation without resorting to violence and crime.
I feel the pain of these mothers, but cautionary tale? These kids look at it as a badge of honor and most young black males don't expect to live long. It is sad, but true. We as parents do everything in our power to raise our kids right, but the lure of the streets is somtimes greater than anything we can say or do. Don't blame anyone but those who CHOOSE to live a life of crime. Conditions have nothing to do with it. It is just so sad that innocent kids have to be caught in the crossfire. What should we as parents do? Keep our kids locked up inside our homes? Riley, Nagin, and whoever should become our next District Attorney need to get on this right away. That a criminal feels it is okay to massacre another human being in broad daylight shows they have no fear of the law, and the way this city handles it's criminals, they good reason not to be afraid. Our leaders are failing dismally. Something MUST BE DONE.....
in response to clark123. what do mean by your coment????? what the hell does slavery have to do with the fact that young men are dying EVERYDAY!!!!!!! please explain your frustations???
zgrrl: Your frustration is palpable. However, it is not MOST Young Black Males that don't expect to live that is a huge fallacy much like by the year 2K 50% of all Black men will be dead or in jail. It is horrible for anyone to lose their lives so senselessly. But, let's not make the false assumption that it's most it gives folks an excuse to write off all black youth. It is the parents responsibilty to raise their children to be responsible individuals. It's not so simple for the Mayor and the police cheif to prevent murders. No city in America can do that. The NRA contributes to this problem by suing cities about the right to bear arms. Do you not find it curious that you are I must be checked and have to wait to buy a handgun. Yet, teenagers gain access to automatic weapons? Something's amiss here and beginning with the elimination of these weapons and eliminating access to drugs is a start. Stop trying to fix problems in Iraq when there are much bigger issues at home.
God Bless these mother's in their grief.
If any of these mother's have names of friend's or enemies of their son's they should speak up now.
I am not a racist but I do think that our black community has to come together to try to put a stop to this insanity. It would also help if our white and black community would get together and try to work something out for the good of all.
Stop asking Nagin or Riley to do something, it will never happen. Get together and do it for the good of everybody.
God Bless
Darn,with all those bullets flying it's a wonder more people didn't get shot. How sad to have to live in that kind of environment. People, something needs to be done A.S.A.P.!. Either the authorities could give a rats butt or they just cannot be at all the murder sites at the time that they are happening, surely they don't have a crystal ball to foresee the crimes. But..........if only someone would speak up and help identify criminals this stuff would stop!. Show those lowlife's your not gonna stand idle and let them get away with killing your flesh & blood. THEY WILL BE AFRAID once they see the people are not gonna put up with this any more. Someone's got to take a stand & i know praying is great and going to church is too but it can't do any good when the thugs are still roaming and living and breathing and enjoying themselves while you suffer!.
God Bless
This is so sad. What's gonna be the final outcome of this city??? How much worse can it get, seriously??
Hooping and hollering and even just sitting back is not going to get the job done. If someone killed my kid,you can bet i'm going to fight them tooth and nail. I'd want them strung by their n*tz!. If i had to go and stay in a different state with relatives or whatever,i would do it for the sake of my child.Testify against your childs killer and be prepared for for that ruthless piece of crap that hurt them. Why be afraid all the time when you know that's exactly what they want!. They have you painted in a corner and your afraid to move. If that's not hell i don't know what is.The criminals are getting away with too dang much,taking a life as if it's nothing and the best part about it is they probably sleep like a baby after they do it!. Fight the thugs!,they need to be afraid for a change.
Can anyone tell me why New Orleans is so attractive, that you would want to put your children in danger of being killed or be influenced by the criminal element? I lived there for ten years, and after Katrina I knew there was always a better place to be, especially trying to raise children! Outside of Mardi Gras and some pretty good food, there is nothing there!!!
Although my grandparents have been gone for some time, I recall the stories of being very poor and the hard times of the depression. They were dirt poor in N.O..
Despite their money problems, they had work ethic and never depended on the goverment for much and they never resorted to criminal activity nor did they justify anyone elses criminal activity.
One thing most of you probably missed in this article is the fact that when two young black men were murdered in the day time, citizens were more worried that there was no screen to shield their bodies. Nothing about how black on black crime needs to be addressed and they are willing to help. No, they need a screen for the bodies.
NOTE TO COMMUNITY: If you don't want to see murder victim's bodies, take your children inside, this isn't Jerry Springer folks.
I do feel for the mother who tried their best, no mother deserves this, but it will NEVER be fixed until portions of the black community say enough is enough. I hope that day comes soon.
The boy was 23 years old. At 20 he was a senior in high school when most should have been in their 2nd year of college. His own mother said he went bad. This is what "bad" costs. You want to run the streets? The streets will eat you fool. RIP.
"As long as New Orleans continues to harbor the socio-economic conditions that breed criminal activity, it will continue to have criminals who hate those conditions and the people responsible."
Public schools are free and college is bascially free to economically disadvantaged. Trade schools are also mostly free to people with a financial need. Why does New Orleans continue to "harbor socio-economic conditions that breed criminal activity," It takes a minimal amout of effort to learn or to develop skills, you cannot give that to people who are not willing to work for it. What do you propose?
There will be many more sad stories of drug dealers and their moms before things get better.
The questions is IF things will get better.
Folks like DunesRiver and Wakeupfriend will always point the finger at white folks while black folks are committing genocide.
"www.2theadvocate.com/news/30608374.html"
This stuff is killing the city economically. Who in their right mind would want to move their family here?
For you DunesRiver -
Are you saying that CRIMES committed by Black people must be understood and excused in the context of simply being black in a rich white man's world. Well....
A black man walked onto a passenger train several year ago and shot 25 strangers, six of whom died.
His defense claimed that he was acting on an over-powering compulsion to commit violence and was caused by embedded 'Black Rage' - which many lawyers, along with a number of American Black activists, and a few White Loyola University lawyers, would like to see recognised as a distinct phenomenon.
And not only distinct, but understandable as a provocation to criminal or violent behaviour brought on by the inability to survive in a world where "everything is a conspiracy to keep the black man down." Or "The Black man's burden" is so heavy, I can't take steps to help myself. It weighs mightly on inner city Blacks.
Uneducated and non-achieving inner-city blacks who murder without remorse must all harbor an obsessive resentment not only of Whites but of each other and all affluent and successful Blacks, and of all more economically successful racial groups, such as Asians or ready to work groups such as Mexicans. In fact of anyone who has pulled themselves up and is taking personal responsibliity for bettering their own life.
If there is any any case at all for this psychological condition - suggested by Dunes - to be regarded as a specific syndrome, it must surely be 'Poor Black Rage' or 'Inner City Underclass Rage'.
DunesRiver is trying to make use of the word 'Black' as a generic moral excuse: a magical incantation which is intended to place black crime on "The whites made me do it" ground, to be judged sympathetically and separate from similar ones committed by other Americans.
By Dunes' reasoning he is making it not just cold-blooded murder of the most whimsical kind, but an act of retribution which must be interpreted in the light of lifelong victimisation.
Is DunesRiver saying the black race (not poor Whites or unemployed Hispanics), should not be judged harshly for their crimes, because their ancestors - many generations ago - were slaves.
It is consistent, in all its illogicality and sociological mystification, with a political fashion for turning would-be explanations of people's behaviour into excuses.
If we define out of existence any crime that has a comprehensible motive, we are on the road to moral chaos - which, of course, describes New Orleans completely.
Posted by DunesRiver on 10/09/08 at 10:43PM
"CRIMES committed by Black people must be understood and excused in the context of simply being black in a rich white man's world."
"I tried to get him to see another way, " she said. "But he wanted the street life more than what I was putting in front of him."
"Some of his friends had no other options, she said. Not him. "I told him, 'YOU CHOSE that life, that life didn't choose you.' "
cry me a river , thug life.
Keep celebrating the getto culture and rejecting the opportunities handed to folks now a'days.
Everyone had a chance to get out the city and begin a new life without all the crime. New friends, new schools, a fresh start. Going back to the same ol crap is going back to the same gangs etc. If you see your child in trouble. Pack your bags get out and start a new life with them. If one of my children was in trouble.....I'd pack in a NY second, nothing would stop me. I would try everything I could before I gave one of them to the streets.
forella,
stay off the web site you bigot, there are people on here trying to find some way to end this problem.
antibush101 I agree with you, I just don't get why people insist on living in the misery, but then I think, it's not the "location" it's the tolerance in that location. I don't care about the color of people, it's what's in their heart and soul that matters. These people have lost their heart and soul living the life of "everything is ok" and "it's ok, there's an excuse for this behavior". BS!!!!!!!! I am so sick of hearing about how terrible it is to live there but no one will change it! They will hide out from these punks and let them run their neighborhood! Shame on NOPD and the people for allowing it to continue! I moved out of that area 20 years ago because I knew if I didn't I would not be alive much longer. I am alive and well and Thank God every day for giving me the strength and knowledge to get out of that element. There is LIFE BEYOND NEW ORLEANS PEOPLE!
A bad National economy always means a more dangerous New Orleans. Tourism falls, businesses lay off employees, more people turn to drugs to dull the pain and crime sky rockets as a result. This is grim for a city that is already the 3rd most dangerous city in the world. Get ready, it's not going to be pretty for quite some time to come.
New Orleans is becoming one of the worse places on earth to live!!! We are losing our city if not lost all ready. The same time we are cheering for the saints someone could be losing a life, that is very sad. Education is key and if you can get out please get out. Our politics will never fix this problem because it's not bill that needs to be passed, it's a culture. To everybody young please leave this city. It offers nothing but heartache and mardi gras.
Dunes- How do you explain the more law-abiding, work centered lives of these young men's parents and grandparents? Were there more opportunities for black people thiry years ago than there are now? How do you explain the achievements of immigrants like the Vietnamese, who come here with nothing and are not even able to speak English? Do they have fewer obstacles to education and employment than native born AA people?
i think nagin and riley should have been ousted a long time ago. they are absolute bums. riley has no clue as to how to run a pd. i don't get it. why hasn't somebody started the movement to get these guys removed. i'm no political/community activist but i would definitely support an initiative to rid our city of lazy/indifferent city officials.
am i the only who misses richard pennington? yeah he beat his wife but dammit he knew how to run a police dept.
nolahippie, you're getting confused about two different kids in the story. One of them is 18...
I'm surprised there's not more outrage overthe grandma of the young boy keeping his child a secret from him... it's good to see a young man taking responsibility and being a father to his child and it's such a shame there's one more fatherless child in New Orleans this week.
i have a 2 yo son but i refuse to run from the city i love/cherish in fear. this city needs law & order and that has to start with the leadership. the citizens need to light a fire under nagin and riley's a**. they have got to go!!!
not until i became a mother did i realize the importance of effective and passionate leadership. i'll admit that. it's a MUST that we the citizens take back our mayor's office, police dept, and the streets from criminals. i don't know of a more powerful message than to remove these guys from their post. this is my city, our city and i refuse to run and hide or throw up my hands in anguish.
seriously, does anyone know how we can get the ball rolling? who should i talk to? is there an organization out there who desires the same thing but just needs the support of community?
This is the first time I've read an article about black on black murder that actually had a human imprint on it. This is (some of) what this city needs - HUMANITY. Normally, it's just minimal facts, names, and criminal records. Though those were also in the article, the writers also put a human face on it (a "this could happen to anyone" kind of tone). My heart breaks for the mothers and families in the story; I can't imagine the pain of losing a child. More of these "news" stories need to be written this way. It makes people care, and until more people care - nothing will continue to get done about it.
On another note, obviously, Pooler knew something about someone, who didn't want him "snitching" on them to get a better deal in court on Wednesday. The NOPD should investigate that angle.
Why would I surrender my town to criminals? Why would I have to leave and not them? New Orleans is STILL important and trying to get honest hardworking people to leave won't solve anything. It is what got us into this trouble to begin with. We need to attract people, not have people leave.
There is way more happening in New Orleans, that is positive than what you will read on NOLA.com (which seems to have developed a pattern- reports on crime from New Orleans -and pretty much only reports on crime- while we are treated to the zoning fights of hamlets on the Northshore and other fawning stories of St. Tammany) The point being, NOLA.com, might not be an accurate reflection of what is happening in New Orleans with its laser like focus on ONLY the bad.
And to those posters who say. "There is a life outside New Orleans". Just why are you here on this forum reading and responding?
DatFiveFo: To everybody young please leave this city.
i'm guessing you don't live here anymore. SHUT UP!!!
bayoustjohn: And to those posters who say. "There is a life outside New Orleans". Just why are you here on this forum reading and responding?
ditto...
does anybody know a communtiy/political activist??
i want to let them know i am one of them many hardworking, law-abiding who are sick of this sh**. i would definitely donate time and energy to get those bums out of office. yes, i do hold nagin and riley accountable for the condition of city. when pennington took over the police dept n.o. had the worst crime/murder rate in the nation and he turned that around. effective leadership! there's no reason why that can't happen again.
Red, green, purple, black, or white, this story is horrible. The crime in this city (Greater NO Metro area!) is horrible. WHEN are our leaders going to step in and make some changes? When are our families going to step in and make some changes?
RIP to these two young men, and prayers out to thier grieving families.
yomama4obama
Don't call me a bigot. You are part of the problem. Most of the chocolate city and people like you vote these fools into office just because of race and then cry that they have abandoned you. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Obama, I just hope you actually know a few things about him. Look at how well things went with Nagin, Jefferson, Shepherd, Pampy, Riley......... And people are still considering re-electing Jefferson! Explain how that is even a possibility.
Such a shame for these mothers.
It is worrisome that with the current economy our crime will worsen. New Orleans really has no business except tourism, a luxury many won't be able to afford for some time. What happens to the criminal element in the meantime? More break-ins, more purse snatchings ... beware out there.
We read for the same reason you look at photos of your dead grandparents. They are gone, but you still love their memory.
Seeing the destruction of New Orleans reaffirms our reason for leaving and just as we pray to see our grandparents again, we wonder how long will this city have to decay until we can be together again.
The City is gasping its last breaths and will soon be pronounced dead just like our grandparents. We hope when heaven begins on earth, we, our Grandparents and the City of New Orleans in all its past glory will all be together again.
When will it stop? This is the N.O. reality and it sounds like an HBO movie. Our lack of leadership and social acceptance within the city are inexcusable and old and overlooked year after year. We rant and rave on these blogs (saying thr same thing), we hold neighborhood meetings, picket outside to "stop the violence" but today and for as long as I can remember kids my age (I'm 23) and younger end up like this...in the "street life". I was born in the East, I live in Mid-City, my family is from St. Roch, their parents are from St. Roch and so on. I've never spent more than 5 minutes in/around the projects (I know better), I won't pretend or act like I have, but is this just what it is? Will it ever stop? Sh*t like this is what's glorified in rap music, and considered the norm in the hood, the ignorance and disregard for anything except money are deplorable; and in the pockets of our city where things like this aren't happening (in City Hall too), it is seemingly ignored. Face it, nobody (except those boys' families) will be talking about this tomorrow. I love my city and I'm proud of being a native, but God how I hate it. Ill pray for those mothers, we all should. This is the longest comment I've ever put on this site. Ever.
I don't buy the "environment where they live" argument anymore. People I grew up with for 20 years are in and out of jail right now while I and a few others went to college. People are responsible for the choices that they make.
Reasons smeesons. Racists. Ecxuses. Poor blacks. Poor city. Poor choices. Thug culture. Who's to blame? Does all this really matter. We're in CRISIS here. Sometimes you need to stop the hemorrhaging when there's blood everywhere.
It's time to stop pointing fingers and waiting for C Ray and Riley to do something. We all know C Ray is going (like his regular long weekends) and Riley will be going with him.
The incoming DA (whoever it will be) needs constant insistence from the community (that would be everybody) that we are not going to tolerate this anymore. No more free passes; no matter how crowded parish prison gets. We are left to petition the city council and the local police captains to patrol our neighborhoods.
We had some district officers at recent night out against crime and then at our community meetings; they told us we (historically) only moved crime from one neighborhood to another - could not get rid of the element. Obviously we can't build the walls in any neighborhood to feel safe and there are not enough private security patrols (if we could afford) to make a difference.
I keep a bumper sticker in my kitchen that greets me each morning with my coffee: SILENCE IS VIOLENCE.
To say we can't afford more cops, better cops is ridiculous. We can't afford NOT to have more police, better trained, more presence. Maybe we need more foot patrols. Maybe the neighborhoods need to welcome this presence. Sure, it's an inconvenience but this is not about comfort or what seems less constrictive to our "rights".
This is a war zone; don't think it isn't. And don't think you're safe just bc you moved across the street or across the lake. I-10 is one long drug corridor with a friendly stop over in the Big Easy. It's not just the kids who get caught up or caught in the cross-fire. It's all of us.
It starts with the parent(s). How in the f--- you have a child twenty years old trying to become a senior in high school? WTF!!! Stop making excuses and get some common sense skills. I can go on and on about this. But I'm not.
yadiyo- Get involved with a Neighborhood Watch group or start one if there isn't one in your immediate neighborhood. I have found that they are very effective and can open up many opportunities to influence conditions in your area. Call 658-5588 (Crime Prevention Office) to get started.
Beautiful story, very sympathetic and heartfelt. Definitely not your usual murder story. I finished the story feeling sad but grateful to the reporter for treating these victims like humans, and for treating this story like the tragedy that it is, not just another statistic.
Armedvenus
So while many, many people are trying to save grandma, who is obviously hurt but not in as critical condition as the stories at NOLA.com would suggest, you are standing on the sideline with a cheering section encouraging us to pull the plug. Things don't get fixed like that. Things get fixed by those working to fix them, and their are plenty in this town. They don't get fixed by encouraging people to pull the plug. You might get some "validation" for your decision and a way to relieve your homesickness but you aren't helping a thing with your attitude. Take it somewhere else. You aren't saving the patient, you are compounding the symptoms.
brentandrews:
The so-called "victims" were drug-dealing thugs. They were living the life and when you live the life, sometimes you get popped. Society probably came out a little ahead on the future investigative, incarceration and possibly execution expenses due to these young bucks being "naturally selected" out of the population.
It's truly sad when a mother/parent loses her child regardless of the circumstances. This killing is not just in New Orleans but a lot of cities are dealing with crime. Evidently "we" (crime effects all of us) have a problem and if nothing is done about it (education, jobs, parenting skills, community involvement, etc.) we will continue to read these stories. Why does a child think that selling drugs is an option for a future? Why does a young man think that the THUG life is an option? Why would a young man drop out of school? Think that sexual conquests make him a man? We have some serious issues that need some serious involvement by all involve. We can't pass the buck on this one!
Wait. I thought Pooler's aunt said he was going to Houston to study engineering or some such thing. I mean, all these "murdered young black men" stories tend to run together...but I swear the original story about this young man said that although he had a minor criminal history he was just getting ready to leave for school in Houston.
I'm going to have to do a search in the archives, because this is driving me crazy. Especially now that his mother said he was dealing drugs.
I guess I must be confused but the street life has taken down - what 7? - young men in less than a week...
I am surprised that more people were not injured or killed in the crossfire. It is a shame that folks cannot enjoy just sitting on their porches and visiting with their neighbors for fear of getting shot in broad daylight.
My heart goes out to these mothers and I hope if they have other children that they are on the right path.
I feel for these parents and may God be with them
But I feel like we as residents of these community's need to step up. You know the drug dealer next door or the murder 3 blocks down and we do nothing not wanting to be a snitich. We the people have to step up and stop letting these criminals rule or neighborhoods. They can't beat us all. And you can report things and be anynomus.
You say the law is doing nothing how can they when they arrive at a crime scene and ask for witness or info everybody turns there lip up or walk away. Come on now step up
It sounds like the mothers did all they could to try to raise their kids correctly, but once a child grows up and decides to live his life the way he wants it, there is not much a parent can do. I really hurt for the moms and I pray they find peace.
Too many young black men in N.O. see only what is in front of them. If they grow up poor in N.O. they believe that they will die that way. They cant see how an education and trying to live the right way can benefit them 5-10 years from now. I grew up in the 10th ward and I was dirt poor. Often we didnt have lights or food and it was absolutely miserable. I looked at the people in my neighborhood and many did not have jobs. Many of them just sat on the porch all day and night and this scene repeated itself day after day. I knew I did not want that life so once I graduated from high school (L.E. Rabouin), I decided to go to college out of state, just to get away from the crowd I grew up around. I had to leave behind "friends" and family in order to get my life together and get a different perspective on things. When I read stories like this it takes me back to the life I lived when I was younger and I say "But for the grace of God, that would be me." These young men had choices to make and they made the wrong choices. Pooler's mother tried to tell him how to live the right way but he chose to do otherwise. Sherman's mother tried to keep him safe in Atlanta but he wanted to come back to the streets of N.O. These young men in New Orleans need to realize that one wrong choice and their lives can be gone. Unfortunately, this story that we have read is one that has been repeated over and over and over again.
God edify the youth with spiritual morality and save them from the hungry beast that have them chasing vanity. My the Holy Spirit protect neighbors from homicide may God forbid when someone tries to revenge a homicide. God edify the youth with love and forgiveness.
Some of his friends had no other options, she said. Not him. "I told him, 'You chose the life, that life didn't choose you.' "
Thats real talk right there. I grew up in the N.O. hoods like everyone else. But its all about the choices you make. Everyone makes bad decisions sometimes in life, but some of those decisions could cost you your life.
I dont know why my brothers just cant see, that life you lead truly only has 2 destinations, Jail or death. Its a shame that this Pooler kid was either going to die, or be looking at jail time, but this is the life he choose. He could have stayed inside, went to church, got in Delgado or something.
Don't get me wrong, I love New Orleans there is no other place like it, despite the criminals and their activities New Orleans is a people friendly enviornment.
I had plans to move Houston prior to the storm after I graduate from college and the storm just helped me along the way. New Orleans never had large opportunities for employment and the pay sucks big time. I moved to Houston after the storm and is making 3 times more than what I did in New Orleans; also, I have two sons of my own and as bad as I would like to return to New Orleans I just can't see myself trying to raise teenage boys in the city. I fear for every young male in New Orleans right now. If you have a chance to better your sons lives please do so ASAP. Don't give up on your kids.
R.I.P. to the young men and my heart goes out to their families.
Live by the sword, die by the sword. Next thing you know, they'll be suicide bombing each other for street cred. But making one does require some intelligence, so I guess that wouldn't happen in New Orleans.
My condolences to the mothers, though... they sound like good people... keep working hard and setting an example; just because your kids didn't take it to heart doesn't mean that other kids don't recognize... keep your head up!
"without the orange screens that typically block bodies from view. It took officials about an hour to bring the screens. During that time, onlookers asked aloud why he was not shielded."
First, I'm sorry to hear about the death of these young men.
However, what SADDENS AND BEWILDERS me even more is the fact "onlookers" asked about why he was shielded. Obviously, this is a too familiar scene in that area for neighbors to be outraged that "orange screens" were not put up in a timely fashion.
Is it just me or does the City officials, not only Nagin and Riley, but all of the City officials need to come together and do something about this problem?
1. Go to the problem areas and investigate PROPERLY to come up with a plan(s) of action.
2. Make sure the crime cameras are working and used PROPERLY.
3. Assign extra police officers in cars and on foot (remember that from the 70s, how the officers would walk up and down the streets)so neighbors see them PROPERLY involved in the community.
4. Have random check-ups/screenings of the police officers to make sure they're doing their job PROPERLY
netricks made a very provocative point that no one seems to be able to put their minds around.
LEGALIZE DRUGS!!! This would dramatically reduce the murder rate and the over all crime rate through out the country. The government could tax drug sales just like they do alcohol. This would bring a tremendous amount of revenue into the economy and eliminate the drug trade. America had this same problem with violence during prohabition, when alcohol sales were illegal. Al Capone and the mafia killed either other gangland style for control of the booze trade. Once the government legalize alcohol, the violence dropped. The drug trade is so appealing because the demand is high and the money is tax free. If the government regulated drugs sales in a controlled environment, like liquor stores, this would eliminate allot of the genocide in the black community. In Amsterdam where most drugs are legal, they only have a fraction of the crime that New Orleans does.
Many of you may not agree with my point of view, but it is time for some drastic measures. This is something that should be looked at seriously. Dealing drugs wouldn't be so attractive to our youth if the money wasn't so easy to make. How many people do you hear of killing each other over liquor sales? Law enforcement could concentrate on locking up real predators like the ones that murdered these young men instead of diverting resources to deal with petty drug possession crimes. To eliminate the drug trade, you have to stop making selling drugs profitable. Any first year economics student could tell you this. People who choose use drugs, and lets be for real, there is a very high demand for drugs in our society. Would be able to purchase them in a controlled environment and pay taxes on their purchase. There would be no need to purchase drugs on the street, therefore eliminating drug dealers. This is a 21st century approach to this problem.
70119too: thanks
dumbdora1: our current city officials i.e. nagin, riley are indifferent to what's going on hence my suggestion to have them removed. i must be talking crazy or something. why aren't we talking about the obvious here? city leadership is non-existent. if i didn't do the job i am charged with then i would be fired. why isn't the same true for city officials?
nagin and riley are absolute bums!!!!
yes, i voted for nagin once (first term). as far as riley, just because someone has experience on the force doesn't make them a leader.
helllloooo, to hell with race/color issues. we need to make the most profound statement of all that we will no longer tolerate uninvolved leaders in our community!!!
jcs:
What are you smoking? Legalize drugs? You miss the point. Let's NOT accommodate the thugs first.
That's like saying let's lower the drinking age to 12 just because everyone knows the kids are drinking younger(?). Too bad some drugs (which ones here) are illegal and might be better regulated - but that's not the LOCAL issue here. You muddy the issue which is we're in a war zone here. Hey, owning a gun isn't illegal but... concealed weapons and weapons procurred illegally... Just give everyone drugs and guns and lots of alcohol and let 'em work it out on their own, huh?
To all of the intelligent African Americans on this blog, I know you hate the messengers who spew off comments about the violence committed by young African American males and you may even be evenly upset at these young African American men for giving them the ammunition to further their racist comments towards African Americans and other minorities. But the fact remains is that these young men are like mini-terrorists and they should be dealt with accordingly. America has failed them by destroying the public school system, keeping them tied down on welfare and violating some of their rights and incarcerating them for the simplest of charges. We know there are many African Americans who are successful, but of course that won't be acknowledged by the media or the pundits who seek the failure of the African American family. Those who despise African Americans will always resort to negative remarks and those who are sincere in their assessments offer positive solutions. Yall keep your heads up
jcsmooth44: legalizing drugs is unrealistic.
the greatest fear politicians or people with power have is losing that power. can anyone imagine how excruciating that would be to be ousted from your throne? and how about the message that would send to next persons to take those offices and the rest of the nation.
black vs white is a more interesting topic here i see...
Well here we go again. It's just gotta be a racist thing, doesn't it?
Hey! It is what it is and has nothing to do with a racist plot against blacks or whites or mushroom-chinesey-looking folks.
"HOUSTON, we have a problem"
Peace out exodi-yada-yada-yada. Get your head out of the trash can.
If the small time hustler, constantly referred to as "thug" is so dangerous, how does he get access to the drugs in the first place?? Since we call him the "thug", what do we call the one responsible for allowing them to get there in the first place? Why never no mention of him, why does he get to slide?
Also, my heart and prayers go out to the families at this difficult time.
You can teach them (your children) and impart all the right things but ultimately we are free moral agents and have a will that no one can control. Even God does not override our power of choice, so how can we? We can't instantly MAKE someone do the right thing. We can only guide, suggest and pray they choose well, so some of us need to stop faulting the parents for any and every thing their children do. At around age seven, we all develop personal accountability.
if you continue to live by the sword, you will die by the sword.
antibush101
First if you have to ask why people chose to live in New Orleans (history, culture, fun, great food, friendly people, great festivals, art) then you didn't get it while you were here and probably never will anyway. What you see in the news represents a small cross section of the city. Just like any other metropolitan city we have a criminal element that needs to be reigned in and prosecuted. Our leaders aren't doing the best job of this but no other city offers the wonderful things NO offers. Sad that you never saw it, you missed alot. But I assume from your name you are a negitive person in general. Very sad.
there is a spirit in new orleans that is hard to explain. murder and drugs are every where in this country but those cities don't have that spirit of the past. new orleans is special and we all need to get together and fight to keep that spirit. if any of you here have ever travled you know what i'm talking about. I am from sin city Las Vegas, we have crimes like these every day two three times a day. the gangs there are horriable. You have many types, white, hispanic, black and the asians. We left there to come to a place that actually has history and loving people. if you have been here all your life i guess you dont see that but it is much worse in vegas. i wish i had an answer. community has to get involved and make a plan to stop this crap. If your PD won't or just can't do it then it is up to all of us to safe this beautiful city.