But he wasn't the only one who condemned the callous killer. Older heads from the rival PIV and Back-a-lands gangs held an unprecedented joint press conference this morning where they said enough is enough. Now, that might sound strange coming from them, but they insisted that they have put down the guns and have held up the truce. However, the problem lies with the younger generation who insist on carrying out the war they didn't start. These older heads say they've been trying to lead the youths in the right direction but it's especially hard when they have nothing - no education, no food on the table, and no job. Still, these members came together today to beg those committing the crimes to stop - if only for the sake of the children.
Brandon Baptist, BLC
"I think the individual who did that simple shooting with that young boy is stupid, they should get penalize for that, because we don't condone that. First thing, I would never mess with a child. I am 36 years old, I try to make kids, I love kids, I always have kids around me and I always treat them, because I love kids. I don't have kids, I love kids, so I would never condone and would never watch that they are chancing those little boys and I get tired of that. That's why I beg to all those so-called gang member who call themselves gang member, please leave the children out of this and I am sincerely tired of this. They are watching us. We are trying to show them we are working together, watch all of us, we are working together."
Reporter
"You are working together now."
Brandon Baptist, BLC
"We try to work together all the time, but some negativity always come up. You know in the streets you have you seh, me seh, dis and dat - we are tired of this. I am telling you straight that we are tired of it and I am willing to work together and I talk to all the boys here and I am straight with them. I don't have no problem with them, I just want we get together and try do this together, try bring back our community."
"We are not into no chancing children and that is what they hurry do. People take the opportunity to do bad and blame us. They say it's just because of PIV and Martin's going through it - that is wrong, that's a lie. We went to mediation the other day and we talk good and we will not make anything happen. We try our best to hold it down and we will continue holding it down and try our best. I will continue to communicate with the boys. We came here on our own free will. We say let us come together. We do this on our own. No police, nobody is here. because we are tired of getting blame for what is happening. You see what is happening out here, as they say Martin's have a little problem, man take the opportunity and do stupidness out there, because they will blame us and we are tired of that, so all what we do, we just link each other and we try work together. We don't need police or anyone to come with us and we are together. We are the bigger heads and we lead by example, if we show the youths the right way, I think they will follow us, I think so."
And Baptist stood beside a resident of the rival gang area, but Brandon Smith agreed that it is time to put an end to the endless cycle of killing.
Brandon Smith, PIV
"All I do is try to teach the youths the right way. I done messed up in my life and now it is their time. I try get scholarship for some of them, I try have them go to school and teach them this is not the way, because we are messed up. All of us who are here are already old and it is their turn now and to kill a little child, come on. I have 3 sons. That burns me."
Reporter
"Have you ever taken a young person's life though?"
Brandon Smith, PIV
"Could have never and would never. Leave the children out of this. I watch my son every day and sometimes I cry."
