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KEARNS — Community leaders and police said Wednesday they were doing what they could to stay on top of the gang problem after two innocent people died in a crash with a truck that detectives said was fleeing a drive-by shooting.
The crash Tuesday night near 5200 West and 5400 South left 50-year-old Tami Lynn Woodard and 55-year-old Lloyd Everett Pace dead.
Unified police investigators said it was the culmination of an escalation in violence between gangs that included multiple other drive-by shootings.
“I think it’s a shame that what has happened has brought such fear into our community,” said Kearns Township Councilwoman Kelly Bush.
Bush said a community meeting with police and the public was scheduled for Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Kearns High School auditorium to address gangs and the recent troubles.
“I think it’s just kind of surprised us all,” she said.
Meanwhile, Unified police said it had assigned 14 officers to the Kearns area as of Wednesday morning, instead of the typical three officers and a supervisor.
Metro Gang Unit detective Skee Afatasi acknowledged the increased presence was simply managing the problem in the short term. He said much more is needed to be done long term in all communities to reduce gang troubles, including helping to keep children away from gangs at increasingly early ages.
“They’re recruiting as young as elementary school-age,” Afatasi said. “If we can get them (in) third, fourth, fifth grade, then at least we can try to get them in the right direction.”
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Police 'fed up' with Kearns gang dispute that led to deaths of 2 bystanders
Police say an ongoing dispute between two rival gangs has "ramped up" over the past month, and seemingly came to a head this week, resulting in the deaths of two innocent bystanders Tuesday night.Bush said providing information that empowers parents was expected to be part of Thursday’s community meeting.
“That’s another facet ... is helping some of these parents get the tools that they need to maybe identify early what is going on, and giving them tools that they need to possibly help them intervene right now and get the kids out of the situation,” Bush said.
Bush said she had heard from many residents who were fed up and wanted to know what they could do to make a difference.
“They want to know what they can do in their community to make them more aware, so I think that’s a great start,” Bush said.
