Thread: VA-Sterling in an Uproar Over Violence

Sterling in an Uproar Over Violence
Residents at Meeting Angry Over Incidents
By Jonathan Mummolo (Contact)

Originally published at 9:26 a.m., September 24, 2008
Updated at 12:09 p.m., September 24, 2008

Hundreds of residents packed a high school auditorium Tuesday night at an emotionally charged community meeting called by Loudoun County officials to address a spike in violence in the Sterling area.

Two teenagers were wounded by gunshots outside a residence Sept. 13, and a drive-by shooting Sept. 17 wounded three men. No arrests had been made in either incident as of Tuesday.

About two hours after the double shooting, a 25-year-old man was stabbed after getting into an argument with another man, authorities said. Carlos Popo Hernandez, who has no fixed address, has been charged in a warrant with the stabbing and is wanted by authorities.

Loudoun County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kraig Troxell said the crimes don't appear to be random acts of violence, and he said they seem to be unrelated. "We can't rule out that the double shooting and the triple shooting are related, but there's no obvious connection at this point," he said.

Tuesday night's meeting at Park View High School nearly devolved into a shouting match at several points, with irate residents yelling over county officials and accusing them of not adequately addressing the problems of gangs and illegal immigration. Several residents said they thought that those problems had contributed to crime.


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Emergency Meeting in Sterling

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Members of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors listen to Sheriff Steve Simpson address the crowd during last night's emergency meeting in Sterling to address the recent wave of violence in the area. (Katherine Frey)

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Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Scott York asks for questions and comments from the audience during last night's emergency meeting in Sterling. The meeting was called to address recent violence in the area. (Katherine Frey)

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Mark Moorcones, 38, of Sterling Park, vents his frustration at last night's community meeting that drew about 300 people to the Park View High School Auditorium. (Katherine Frey)

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Over 300 people packed Park View High School's auditorium to listen to and vent frustrations about a recent wave of violence in the Sterling area. Loudoun County board Scott York listens to suggestions, complaints and praise. (Katherine Frey)

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Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson listens to criticism of his department during last night's emergency meeting at Park View High School to address the recent wave of violence in Sterling. (Katherine Frey)

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Joshua Salaam, 35, who moved to Fields of Sterling from Baltimore, volunteers to help organize a community effort to assist the police during last night's emergency meeting in Sterling. He says he has seen this problems before on a much greater scale where he used to live. (Katherine Frey)

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Board of Supervisors Chair Scott York, center, along with other board members and Sheriff Steve Simpson, addresses the crowd of more than 300 people gathered at Park View High School. (Katherine Frey)
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Troxell said the question of whether gangs are connected to the shootings is under investigation, as is the possible involvement of illegal immigrants.

In remarks near the start of the meeting, Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson pointed to successes his office has had in fighting crime and stressed the need for additional resources from the county. He said each of the recent incidents was met with a quick response from sheriff's deputies, and he talked about his office's efforts to combat gang activity.

"These types of things are costly, and they take resources," Simpson said. "It's tough budget times, I know, but we have to stay proactive."

Simpson also noted that a suspect was in custody for an August sexual assault in Sterling. And he announced that a "person of interest" in several nighttime prowler incidents dating to the beginning of the year was in custody on unrelated charges.

In the prowler cases, women in communities including Leesburg and Ashburn were touched in their beds by an unknown man who entered homes through unlocked doors and windows, authorities said.

Simpson asked the residents at Tuesday night's meeting to be vigilant and communicate with law enforcement officials if they have knowledge of crimes.

Several residents in attendance said they are afraid to leave their homes at night or allow loved ones to run errands alone.

"I felt the concussion of the shots. I smelled the gunpowder," Dave Yokem, 63, who lives near the location of the double shooting, told officials. "Our lives are at stake here."


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Another Sterling resident, Jason Rios, 30, said he heard the triple shooting, which happened 30 feet from his house. Although he called 911 and left his contact information, nobody from Simpson's office had contacted him for an interview, he said.

Sheriff's deputies "are working hard, but the process is flawed," Rios later told a reporter. Simpson responded that his office would like to speak further with Rios.

Several members of the county Board of Supervisors also spoke at the meeting. Supervisor Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling) repeated his long-held contention that illegal immigration has caused "quality of life" issues that contribute to criminal activity. Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles) said a gang problem exists but also cautioned the crowd that cracking down on illegal immigration could have unintended consequences, such as prompting members of the immigrant community to be fearful of cooperating with authorities in investigations.

"We've got to find a balance point somewhere," Miller said.

The triple shooting occurred about 9 p.m. Sept. 17 at East Poplar Road and South Buckingham Court. A green or teal two-door car passed the three victims, who were standing at the intersection — which is sometimes a hangout for young people — eating food from McDonald's, Troxell said.

At some point, the car returned and shots were fired from it, wounding three men ages 19, 20 and 21. All were taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital. As of Tuesday, the two younger victims had been treated and released and the 21-year-old remained hospitalized, Troxell said.

The double shooting occurred in the 300 block of North Argonne Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. Sept. 13, Troxell said. The victims, an 18-year-old man and 17-year-old girl, were airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Their conditions were not available Tuesday, Troxell said.

About two hours later, a man was found in the 1500 block of North Amelia Street suffering from a stab wound, after deputies received reports of an injured man walking in the area. He was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he remained hospitalized as of Tuesday, Troxell said.

Troxell said that the victim was an acquaintance of Hernandez and that the two were arguing before the confrontation turned physical.

http://loudounextra.washingtonpost.com/ ... -violence/

Several members of the county Board of Supervisors also spoke at the meeting. Supervisor Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling) repeated his long-held contention that illegal immigration has caused "quality of life" issues that contribute to criminal activity. Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles) said a gang problem exists but also cautioned the crowd that cracking down on illegal immigration could have unintended consequences, such as prompting members of the immigrant community to be fearful of cooperating with authorities in investigations.

Puh-lease! Members of illegal alien community do not cooperate with any law enforcement as it is, unless it's to their benefit. The issue here is to protect US citizens and LEGAL immigrants. I could care less about illegal aliens! CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL ALIENS NOW!!!

They KNOW they are here against the law, they KNOW there will be consequences. Now let's ENFORCE THOSE CONSEQUENCES! Illegal aliens should NOT have more rights or due process than US citizens and LEGAL immigrants. US born children of illegal aliens are minors and belong to the parents (NOT the country), therefore the parents MUST be forced to take them back with them! What kind of parent abandons their kids in the name of money?!?!? Illegal aliens, that's who! They call these "family values"??? Don't make me laugh!

Tuesday night's meeting at Park View High School nearly devolved into a shouting match at several points, with irate residents yelling over county officials and accusing them of not adequately addressing the problems of gangs and illegal immigration. Several residents said they thought that those problems had contributed to crime.

Just wait until this crowd finds out about I-9s.

Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles) said a gang problem exists but also cautioned the crowd that cracking down on illegal immigration could have unintended consequences, such as prompting members of the immigrant community to be fearful of cooperating with authorities in investigations.

I dont give a damn how "fearful" illegal aliens are when cooperating with authorities. MR MILLER, STOP PROTECTING THE ILLEGAL ALIENS AND START PERFORMING YOUR DUTIES AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.

If you don't have enough back bone to stand up and take your town back, you deserve what you get!!

Do we have rule of LAW anymore?