EPPD: No Increase in Gang Violence

mother of a man shot and killed by an el paso police officer tells abc- seven her son knew people involved in two other shootings. wednesday august fifth — a man is shot and killed near van buren and cassidy. the following night — a police officer killed a man near the player’s lounge in central el paso. and just this past monday — two men shot at the driver of a car heading north on u.s. 54 in northeast el paso. the victim jumped out of his car and ran to safety. we wanted to know if this means gang violence is on the rise. abc-seven’s darren hunt investigated, and has a story you’ll see only on abc-seven… bob and estela, police would not characterize the situation as a gang feud or spike in gang activity … but they did admit they are bulking up patrols in some areas. “i really can’t speak about a feud or confirm one … some of the incidents have been gang related.” sgt robert gomez is a spokesman for the el paso police department … and while he wouldn’t call three shootings in just six days in central and northeast el paso a gang feud, he admits that gangs are involved. “all the regional commands ar providing additional officers to shift over to that area of town … just to make sure the public is safe, to assure the public we are taking care of matters and make sure that the public is safe.” this is video sent to us by an abc-7 viewer of the scene outside of perches funeral home on joe battle in east el paso on thursday … showing a big police presence at the viewing for charlie bertram. it was bertram’s mother who told abc-7 the shooting incidents over the past week or so were linked. “are you a little concerned tha something is escalating over here in the northeast?” “i’m very concerned … i’m concerned and i’m scared.” wednesday august fifth — a man was shot and killed near van buren and cassidy. the following night — on the way to a vigil for that man, charlie bertram is shot and killed by a police offcier near the player’s lounge in central el paso. investigators say bertram had a gun and fired at the officer. and just this past monday — two men on riding us-54 shot at another driver in northeast el paso … the victim jumped out of his car and ran to safety. “gangs have existed, will exist we don’t think it’s a problem as of yet, but we’re definitely keeping our eye on the situation and making sure that problem doesn’t become serious.” despite the string of shootings, police stress violent crime is down overall in the city from last year by 10 percent … including a 12 percent drop in central and three percent in northeast. bob and estela. thank you, darren. i moderated a panel at the texas lyseum at utep. police chief greg allen was one of the guest and he said he is upset hearing carlie bertram’s mother say she’s afraid and confirmed that patrols are being “bulked up” northeast el paso. abc-seven and tex- dot with live traffic coverage