Page 15 - 4-3-15 Friday's Edition

Feature
‘Stop The Violence’ Rally Held In Downtown Tampa
On March 21st, Richard Newton, a 14-year-old Tampa student, was fatally in- jured by gunfire. The teenager was attending a birthday party when the gunfire erupted.
Last week, following the death of Newton, as well as several other teenagers, mem- bers of the community held a “Stop The Violence” Rally in front of the Tampa Police De- partment.
Prior to the Rally, Police Chief Jane Castor held a press conference calling on the community to help break the code of silence and to help bring an end to the violence by cooperating with law en- forcement.
During the press confer- ence, Chief Castor com- pared crime statistics from January through March 2014 to the same time period this year. The facts revealed the
following in 2014: Aggravated Battery with a
gun was 22, and the total number of offenses involving a gun was 164. During that time period last year, there were 7 murders, 52 guns re- ported stolen, and 290 guns recovered. There were no ac- cidental shootings last year.
The facts revealed the fol- lowing in 2015:
Aggravated Battery with a gun was 48, and the total number of offenses involving a gun was 235. During that time period last year, there were 13 murders, 117 guns re- ported stolen, and 338 guns recovered. There were 4 acci- dental shootings this year.
The Rally was organized by Ali Muhammad and was attended by some parents who lost children to gun vio- lence as well as those calling for solutions. (Photographs by BRUNSON).
Andrew Joseph, II, spoke at the event. His son was hit by a car while crossing Inter- state 4 a year ago. His son, Andrew Joseph, III, was one of 99 children who had been ejected from the Florida State Fairgrounds that night.
Ms. Denita
hosted the birthday party where Richard Newton was killed.
Ali Muhammad organized the “Stop The Violence” Rally.
Hutchins
Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor is talking with, (shown L-R): Hillsborough County Teacher Ross Anderson, Ms. Denise Fisher, mother of Antoine Fisher, and Ms. Dianne Hart.
(L-R) Ms. Denise Fisher, mother of Antoine Fisher (who died March 2, 2015), and Ms. Shirle Fisher Best attended the event.
Ms. Lynda Ellils, Ms. Stella Ling, and Ms. Marva Reese at- tended the “Stop The Violence” Rally.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-B