Boys and girls as young as fourth grade are known to be involved in gangs.

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

Detectives: Gang violence begins in elementary school

Posted: Mar 19, 2012 2:08 PM MST Updated: Mar 19, 2012 2:08 PM MST

 

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - A cell phone captured video of some girls at Williston Middle School violently fighting each other last week. The cell phone video shows two girls initiate the fight, and then others join in.

The county's gang task force is investigating the case and said it could be surprising to learn just how many young gang members are in the area.

Detectives said boys and girls as young as fourth grade are known to be involved in gangs.

Officials in the gang task force said gang members often learn signs, code words and violence from their friends and family members. With technology gaining so much popularity, the violence often ends up on the internet.

"What happens is they get caught up in the moment. It's exciting and their friends are all there and they are fighting and they just start filming it," explained Sgt. John Leonard with the NHC Gang Task Force. "They don't think about the consequences of what can happen. Sometimes they say things that they don't know what will start a fight - things they've heard from older siblings."

According to Leonard, the task force will go after the gang leader when they deal with these kinds of fights, because they have the most knowledge and power over the group but everyone involved will be punished.

The girls involved in this fight could face felony charges and even school suspension for fighting on school grounds.

Detectives warn parents to look for the following signs to tell if your teen could be involved in gang activity:

• Strange doodles or pictures
• Violent behavior
• Keeping secrets
• Hand signs
• Ripped or colored clothing
• Use of code words