Mar 17, 2006 4:39 pm US/Central
Englewood Families Rally Against Assault Weapons
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Two Englewood families, united by a tragic bond, have joined a rally against assault weapons.
Siretha White, 10, and Starkesia Reed, 14, were both killed by stray bullets while inside their homes in the West Englewood neighborhood.
At a news conference Friday at the Allegro Hotel, at 171 W. Randolph St., both girls' families made an emotional plea to lawmakers, gun makers, and even gang leaders, asking them to get assault weapons off city streets.
Talking about her daughter's slaying, Siretha Woods, mother of Siretha White, said, "That was the hardest thing I could have experienced."
Siretha White's uncle, Kevin Woods said: "People in Englewood know where people hide these guns. They know where these brothers are putting these guns at. We need to turn these guns in."
Starkesia Reed' s mother, Denise Reed, said gang leaders also needed to take heed.
"I'd also like to speak to the gang leaders," Denise Reed said, "that you can call at truce in the city of Chicago."
Englewood community leaders are also calling for more community watch groups to monitor the streets.
Siretha White was fatally shot on March 11 while attending her own birthday party inside her aunt's home in the 2000 block of West 70th Place, when a man opened fire on a group of men standing on the porch. Gang member Moses Phillips, 19, of the 6200 block of South Honore Street, was later charged with first-degree murder in Siretha's shooting.
Starkesia Reed was killed March 3 when a stray bullet from an AK-47 assault rifle went through the window of her family's house in the 6700 block of South Honore Street as she was getting ready for school. Carail Weeks, 24, was charged with first-degree murder in Reed's slaying.
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