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Some residents call the area where a girl was killed in a drive-by shooting a battleground.
Salt Lake Police were not able to give us statistics on whether there are more drive-by shootings or shots-fired calls in that neighborhood than elsewhere. But anecdotally, they say gang violence on Salt Lake City's west side is a constant battle.
When it comes to Fremont St. in the Glendale area, "It's been a quiet neighborhood of original owners," said Salt Lake Council member Van Turner.
Resident Sloane Ackwan said, "We don't ever have any trouble on this particular block. But you hear gun shots all the time, so that doesn't mean that there's not something going on behind you or over there."
What's happening around these residents?
Rosalva Segora said, "It's a problem. It's a big problem. With the kids, it's not good."
Chris Sorenson has been delivering mail to Glendale neighborhoods for a year. He said, "I don't think it's very good out here. I deliver in Sugar House and it's two different worlds."
Worlds collided Sunday when rival gangs clashed and mistakenly killed a 7-year-old girl in the crossfire.
Sloane Ackwan said, "It could have been my grandson. The first thing I did was come out and find him."
Council member Turner points out that reported crime in Glendale is down overall, but he admits drive-by shootings and other gang-related violence is alive and well. He said, "We have a drive-by shooting maybe once every three months, maybe four months. We don't have one every month.
"If you see the bigger picture, we didn't have any of them originally. They started coming in the ‘80s from out of the city and out of state. They seem to congregate here," he said.
Sloane Ackwan said, "I don't think there's much you can do about it."
Police disagree, and so do some residents.
Joanne Milner said, "What we need to do is unify as people."
One way, according to police, is to form a stronger Neighborhood Watch program.
Resident Katie Johnson said, "Start writing down license plate numbers of cars that drive by your house more than once. Just stand up to them. They can't shoot us all."
We spoke with at least four neighbors who didn't know if a Neighborhood Watch program even existed. Police and city leaders say the people have to get involved, look after one another, and watch their streets if they're going to take their neighborhood back from the gangs.
E-mail: gkennedy@ksl.com
E-mail: cwall@ksl.com
