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As people gather to mourn the loss of a little girl in a gang shooting, there are new concerns that street gangs have stepped up their recruiting.
The bottom line: Police say gangs want more manpower than their rivals, so they look to children to grow their numbers.
Salt Lake gang investigators tell The Salt Lake Tribune gang members start recruiting in the junior highs, where children are more impressionable. But older gang members are also increasing, and investigators are concerned they'll pass on their heritage to their children.
Police say the neighborhood where a 7-year-old girl was killed is unusual because it includes so many older gang members. Usually they're incarcerated or dead by age 25.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
