CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Two teenagers have been taken into custody for their involvement in a shooting in Champaign that injured a 14-year-old this week. In response, community leaders are urging parents and children to work together to stop this needless violence.
Police and community leaders in Champaign stress that the solution begins with parents. While numerous resources are available within the community, the onus is on guardians to be the influential voice their children will heed.
“It’s just upsetting because I can’t even allow my son to go to the park or hang out there. He has friends in the area, but they have to come here to play because I just can’t risk having him there,” expressed Tiana Harris.
Harris has been living down the street from Oakwood Trace Townhomes for 10 years, but throughout those years, she said crime in the area has gotten worse.
“I mean, eventually I do want to move,” Harris said. “Like I love you here, but I just feel like if I can’t put the blame on anybody.”
Tuesday evening’s shooting happened at North 3rd Street and Beardsley Avenue and involved two teenage boys — ages 15 and 16 years old — who were part of a shooting that led to a 14-year-old getting shot. Police said they found more than 40 shell casings.
“I remember probably like a year or two ago, they were shooting and it was real close, and his room is right here. So he will scare, like he got on the floor. You know, I made him get on the floor and he will scare like to literally have to sell my son to get on the floor because they’re shooting outside of our house. It’s something that I never want to do.”
But community leaders like Willie Comer are reaching out to parents and kids to share the same message.
“Kids can be kids. Kids should not have to be afraid to live where they live,” Comer said.
Wednesday morning, he continued to follow through with his previous plans, bringing the activities and resources to teenagers and children even after the shooting and reminding everyone who attended that the change starts at home.
“We need parents to parent,” Comer said. “We got your back. We got the back of parents. We can help you, but we need you to be the first parent. You need to be the first teacher.”
The Champaign Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information, photos or videos relevant to the shooting should reach out.
