West Jackson crime rises: Drugs, economy eyed
With a dramatic increase over the past year, downtown and west Jackson have become home to the city’s most violent crimes.
One of every three violent crimes in the city this year has taken place in the southwest quadrant of the city, including almost half Jackson’s homicides and rapes and the shooting of Precinct 2 Patrolman DeWayne Collier.
This year, Precinct 2 has seen a 15 percent increase in major crime and a 23 percent increase in violent crime – the most in the city.
From April to June, armed robberies across the city increased 68 percent and included some daring daylight robberies that have shocked city residents, including at :
McDonald’s on Mississippi 18 and the Elite Restaurant downtown on June 6.
M&F Bank on I-55 frontage road on June 16. Gunshots were fired into the ceiling during an attempted robbery.
Popeye’s restaurant on Clinton Boulevard on June 30. Two men wearing bandannas held up the business. Antoine Turner, 23, and Cornelius Black, 20, the two men accused of shooting a Jackson police officer July 7, have been charged in that robbery.
– Sonic restaurant on Northside Drive at gunpoint on July 6.
– Radio Shack on Mississippi 18 at gunpoint Tuesday evening.
– A-One Food Mart on Road of Remembrance Thursday afternoon by masked gunmen who shot at clerk, who was behind protective glass.
Clarion Ledger
7/14/8
Magnolia Tribune
