Lynchburg: Shootout in The Not OK Corral

Both WSET and the Lynchburg News and Advance are reporting:

First reports was someone got out of a cab and started shooting at the house on 618 Franklin Street. The police sealed off Franklin Street, but the shooter was never caught. Now the story is emerging that two people were involved in shooting at each other.

The Lynchburg News is reporting that they are not sure if this is gang related. Neither person was caught, or injured according to the LPD (Lynchburg Police Department).

Things we do know: A cab driver delivered one of the shooters. Cab records should point to were the ride originated. The cab driver if he doesn't know the rider should be able to give a description. Cabs in Lynchburg receive a lot of revenue carrying young men around making many stops sometimes all night long. People in the area most likely witnessed something.

Things we do not know: Will the cab driver come forward with information, and a description of the rider? Will people in the area provide information on who the shooters were? Was this a planned shootout? And was this gang related?

Things that we think should happen: All city employees be given mandatory drug tests. All cab drivers required to have mandatory drug testing. After all, those that use cabs depend on the drivers for their safety. All city employees became adjuncts to the police department, sworn in and required to report to the police suspected drug activity and gang activity. Water meter readers and street workers see a lot. Garbage workers can tell a lot about people from what people throw away. Every city employee should be utilized in making our city a better place to live. The city should develop a comprehensive plan to reverse this trend toward violence.

Things that exist in our suspicious mind: This was gang related, drug related, and revenge related. And most likely all those related factors played into this shootout that put many at risk from the gangs that don't know how to shoot straight.

Things that we should suspect will not happen: The city will not make a comprehensive plan. This event and the recent spat of violence will be ignored by City Council. City streets will become safer without a plan.

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