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by Weaver from Thomasville

Last Post 55 days, 20 hours Ago


Conversation with a Gangster
Mar 4, 2008 | 10:17 PM
Category: News
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The weather was the big news today so you might not have seen this one.  Reporter Caron Myers and I did an interview today that has me scratching my head and police in Alamance County high fiving all around.

The guy in the picture is Thomas Earl Newman Jr.  He found himself in an altercation Monday night and he ended up in Duke Hospital with multiple lacerations.  The other guy is in jail for the attack.

Both Burlington Police and Graham Police say the altercation was gang related and that both the attacker and the victim were gang members.  That got our attention and so we headed to Alamance County to see what was up.

While I was getting footage of the area where the fight happened, Caron did the obligatory 'knock and talk' at the address where we were told people involved in the scuffle lived.

What I heard in my earpiece gave me a chill.  It was Newman behind the apartment door....and he was willing to talk on camera.

You can watch the whole thing at this link:  WATCH RAW INTERVIEW, but to sum it up...Newman told us he is a a member of the GKB (Gang Killer Bloods) and a part of a cleanup crew.

The gang specialists in Alamance County tell us that a clean takes care of retaliation efforts.

The cops in Alamance County that saw the interview say it's some of the best interaction with a gang member they've ever seen.(hence the high fives)

Newman said he wouldn't seek revenge personally but that the 'crip' gang member that attacked him with what he called a "crocidile dundee knife", would get his.

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 3
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sonofthunder read my blog view my photos
Mar 5, 2008 | 9:45 AM

...i saw your story last night and your exactly right..chilling...stone cold strait...gotta give the man his props...no diss'n going on here dog...


..it is the lingo of the streets, and it is important that we hear what he is saying, listen to the words, look in his eyes, check out the body language...they consider themselves "soldiers" and they have a code all of their own...they also take care of their own, and to be certain violence WILL certainally begat even more violence before this story is over, we will be hearing more about this...it is not a fight, it is a war!

...i work as a security professional at a local community college...i hear and see this type of thing day in and day out...this was one of the better stories i have seen lately and hopefully it will air again because last night's wild weather ride kinda took the focus off an excellent piece of Journalism...

Nicely Done with the story..disturbing as it reveals....
ladyred2007 read my blog view my photos
Mar 5, 2008 | 4:06 PM

I also saw this story. How sad was that interview? To know that such a handsome and seemingly bright young man is living a life that has so future. To know that death is what lays in his path and he knows it and can discuss it with such a "matter of fact" tone is heart breaking. I have to ask myself how kids get involved in this type of activity. Is his parents to blame? Is society to blame? Where was he failed in his childhood?
Gangs are horrible, we all know that, but to see and hear a young man be so cold and calloused is not just scary...it is heartbreaking. I was surprised to see him not only admit he was a gang member, but surprised by his response and truthfulness when he said his members would retaliate. Before the interview even aired, they already had. Sad and scary and reality.
openmic read my blog
Mar 6, 2008 | 2:19 PM

Gangs must be providing things that the rest of society isn't. The obvious "benefits" of being in a gang are acceptance, support, and a purpose (however skewed) along with expectations of excitement, money, fun, prestige and power. Gangs are seductive with their shortcut promises to money and power, and the danger becomes a badge of honor. Kids always feel indestructible, so even when they know they are on a path to destruction they dismiss that notion.

We need to get into gang members’ heads more. We’ve got to figure out how to turn these kids around. We need them to become part of productive society. What are we doing wrong? Racial prejudice, poor economy, ineffectual discipline, entitlements, inadequate leadership? And the hardest part, how do we fix it?

Although we have many public and private officials who are trying to help, it’s not working. Good report… hope it wakes some people up.
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Weaver

I am Chris Weaver. Around the Station they just call me Weaver. I am a Fox 8 Photojournalist. I hit the streets everyday in search of the best visuals from around the Piedmont to bring to you on the 5, 6 and 10 o'clock news. Oh, and don't forget Fox 8 Friday Football!

Member Since: 8/25/2006


 

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