Angered, the two young gang members began to kick them in the ribs, the genitals, and finally in the face. He was shot twice for begging. After another round of blows to the head, all six gang members jumped into the van and sped off. The victims were left to bleed for another 10 minutes before help arrived. And the new recruits, praised for their job, were returned to the gang s home turf, where a dozen of their peers awaited them.
Police admit that the increase in shootings and murder rates is shocking.
While their children are fighting in armed gang wars, thousands of moms and dads are oblivious to their children s whereabouts or activities. In single-parent families, the parent deficit is even greater. Not only is the working mother away from home, but also the nation s 9 million noncustodial fathers tend to be absentee parents. Like a ritual, gang violence is a communal event that links members together. They use violence to initiate new members into the gang.