http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5903460

Gang shooting has neighborhood fearing for their safety

Jan 7, 2007 04:36 PM PST


CORPUS CHRISTI - Two men were recovering in the hospital after a gang related shooting in a central Corpus Christi neighborhood. Residents there now fear more retaliation is coming. Police said this is the third shooting in an ongoing battle between two rival gangs.

Jesse Flores, 28, was shot Saturday night, and is the brother of a man who was gunned down in his apartment back in October. Daniel Flores, 26, was shot to death in his apartment over on 7th Street near Elizabeth.

Detectives said Flores death appears to have sparked another retaliation shooting two nights ago. Police said Robert Pulido was shot in the hip at an apartment on Hancock Street. But the retaliation didn't stop there.

Last night Jesse Flores and Robert Davis, 19, were shot at a home on the 3300 block of Mahan. (map) 6 News talked to residents in the neighborhood, who said they fear there may be more retaliation, and now worry about their families' safety.

"When I came home there was police cars and crime scene tape all over the place," said Kevin who lives in the neighborhood. He was shocked to hear Jessie Flores and Robert Davis were gunned down at a home on Mahan.

Investigators said Flores and Davis were with a group of people at the house, when two men at the get together were confronted by masked gunmen as they walked out of the back door. Detectives said the suspects ordered the men to lay down on the ground and then asked if Jessie Flores was in the house. That's when they began shooting.

14 rounds were shot into the home, three bullets hitting Flores in the chest, neck and hip. Davis was shot in the chest by the masked gunmen who drove away from the scene. A frightening ordeal for residents like Kevin who worry the gang violence isn't over.

"When you have a shooting in the neighborhood you worry if there is going to be retaliation, they'll take it somewhere else and then it comes back here, chasing people down...I worry about stray bullets," Kevin said.

He's not the only one who's concerned. 6 News spoke with several residents who said the problems at the house, where the shooting occurred, have been so bad that they've decided to move out of the neighborhood.

Many here are worried the gang war could end up spilling into the neighborhood, ultimately costing an innocent bystander their life.

"The stray bullets go through a wall go through a window, maybe not intentionally aimed at you, you just get caught," Kevin said.

Flores was in critical condition and Davis is in serious condition at Christus Spohn Hospital-Memorial. Police have gotten some leads in the case, but are still looking for the suspects.