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Written By:  Destiny “mzlollipop” Whitfield

Violence in the community seems like it will never end, but how can we slow it down? When will all our young people stop killing each other? Who is to blame? Why do they kill each other? Below are some stories of three mothers and one young man and maybe this can give you some insight on what is really going on amongst our young people.

Forbes “P-Nut” Swisher, one of the most famous cases in Saint Petersburg, FL still to this day, here is his story…

Three years ago, Denise Swisher was living a quiet life as a single mother of four children. But in May 2006, after someone shot and killed her 18-year-old son, Forbes “P-Nut” Swisher he was killed when someone in a crowd of fighting youths pulled out a gun and fired. Part of the reason is a longstanding rivalry between youths from Childs Park and others from Bethel Heights, an area known for an apartment complex that no longer exists. Childs Park lies west of 34th Street S; Bethel Heights is to the east. and until this day no one has came forward and is case remains open.

here are some of the comment from his mother and friends:

denise swisher[ pnut mother]:  “Aw man, he was the greatest. Anybody that knew P-Nut loved P-Nut. He was guaranteed to make you smile. He was voted “Prettiest Smile” in the yearbook. He was just full of life. He had so much energy, you know. He just stood out, you know what I mean? They took so much away from me when they ended his life. He was just so eager to go on. He had just graduated from high school two weeks before he died, and he was going to Bethune Cookman College. He used to always talk about the things he was going to accomplish, you know. … I miss my son every minute of every day.”

friend: [ comments from an memorial myspace page ]:  4 more days and it will be 3 yrs we have been with out you bruh…im still thinkin bout you daily my nigga..shit aint the same homeboi..

i miss you more then anything..
you was like a brother to me pnut..
id give it all up just to have u back again…i miss the times we use to have…ur gunna be 21 this year bro…i cant believe it…

im sure it will be a huge party for you this year..if not then i most def will be poppin a bottle just for you…i do all this for you bruh..real talk…u livin on thru us all..until we meet again..rest in peace my friend…i love you bruh.. see you when i get there..”

“ wat up bro its been a while since you sis queen (erin) came threw and showed you some love just sitting around thinking about all the good times we shared missing you like crazy ive never fa gotten you i love you ive seen mama and nicey in city trends a lil while back all we did was stanD around and talk about you me erika and dresa was talkin bout you and came to come talk to you one day you know jokin around you know me couldn.t keep it togethere out there well nut i love you and miss you and keep your hands and eyes on me and ill keep watchin mama sis.s and dale tez all dem fa you love talk to you later bro..:”

“WHAT UP NUT DIS YA BOYZ T/S TONY N SCOOTA BRO WE MISS U OUT HERE TO NIGGA SHIT CRAZY NOW BUT LIKE WE TOLD TEZ DIS TEZ N PNUT SHIT GONE BE REMEMBER 4 EVER THROUGH DA 2 YOUNGEST NIGGAZ OFF 10TH SO YALL WALK LIGHT N LET US HOLD IT DOWN DIS WAY N HAPPY LATE B DAY NUT”

THE STORY OF : Michael “Mike-Mike” Smith

On May 11, 2006, Mike-Mike Smith was hanging with friends in the parking lot of Citrus Grove Apartments. The evening had drawn residents of the 84-unit complex out for some relief from the day’s heat. Adults sat on chairs on the sidewalk, teenagers sat on cars and children played games on the lawn.

Mike stood with his best friend, David Norfleet, 18, and another friend, Phillip Peterson. Best friends since third grade, David and Mike experienced life side by side. Norfleet says Mike would confide in him when he fell in love, complain to him when his girlfriend annoyed him and ask advice when he’d argued with his mom.

Now as they chatted together on this night, a Dodge Durango, later identified as stolen, cruised up Seventh Avenue South and stopped abruptly in front of them.

Witnesses said young men in the car started cursing at Mike and the others in the lot, and shouting “Childs Park,” a neighborhood east of 34th Street that has an ongoing rivalry with Bethel Heights, which includes Citrus Grove. They say one of the men in the car, Demarlis “Money” Melvin, 18, threatened to return with a gun.

Mike didn’t know Melvin or the others in the car, which sped off after the brief verbal confrontation. He and his friends shrugged off the threat.

But Devine had heard the commotion from her chair on the sidewalk in the back of the complex. She called her son on his cell phone. He promised to come right home.

He never got the chance.

The Durango returned, according to witnesses. Melvin was in the back seat with a gun, they say. By the time Mike and his friends saw the barrel, it was too late.

David Norfleet made it behind a wall that separated the parking lot from the street. But when he returned, Phillip Peterson and Mike Smith were on the ground.

A bullet had torn through the bill of Peterson’s cap, but didn’t harm him.

The other bullet hit Mike in the head.

At 6:29 p.m., Devine dialed her son’s cell phone again. This time, he didn’t answer. He was already brain dead.

The family took him off life support the day after he was shot and donated his organs. The death certificate lists the date of death as May 12, but for those who loved Mike, the date will always be one day earlier.

The story of “Pac-Man”

because this case is still open , they didn’t release many details…

On 05/23/05, Antonio D. Roberts “Pac-Man” was shot to death at 2125 62nd Place South. and he left behind and son and at the time his son was only an couple of months old, it was rumored that he was set up and was shot outside his mothers house and died in his mother arms!

What’s Next?

Police have arrested a man in Smith’s slaying. The other two cases remain unsolved.

The three young victims are among the 42 people slain in the city in the last 18 months.

Many fall into a familiar and tragic pattern: young black men killed by other young black men.

All three young men grew up and knew each other, two died in  the same month and one an month ealier, “when will this end?’

and statement from swisher’s mother:

“We’re just here asking for an end to this violence.

“Don’t let another mother bury her child.”

June, 2010, yet another murder has taken place…

a Spoto High senior, was charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder, here is his story…

RIVERVIEW — An 18-year-old Durant High School senior looking forward to walking across the stage at his graduation was shot and killed early Sunday at a classmate’s party.

Devante Lamar Dallas hadn’t planned on attending the graduation and birthday bash at the Winthrop Barn and Theater on Bloomingdale Avenue, but decided at the last minute to go.

Shortly before 1 a.m., a fight broke out at the party, which had grown to about 300 people, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff report. Sometime during that brawl, a teen started firing a gun into the crowd. Three people were struck by bullets.

Late Sunday, authorities said they had arrested the suspected shooter, 18-year-old Khayri Rashaad McCray of Tampa.  The Spoto High senior was charged with murder in the second degree and two counts of attempted murder.

As partygoers scurried, Dallas cried out that he had been shot. But he kept running, said cousin Thomas Robinson, 19, who wrapped an arm around Dallas and saw blood.  Dallas died at the scene. He didn’t know the shooter, his mother, Sunceray Dean said Sunday afternoon. She noted that her son appeared to have been struck from behind as he was running.  Two other men who were shot, Jeffrey Thomas, 41, and De Ron Richardson, 20, both of Valrico, were transported to a local hospital where they were treated and released.  Thomas was among the parents who had rented the space for a graduation party, authorities said. On Sunday afternoon, a young man who answered the door at his Valrico house declined to comment.

My heart goes out to all these families of these young men…  all I ask is that we stop and come together!

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As we are acquainting ourselves with the summer season of 2010, what is to become of it? We are presently witnessing one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history . Its only raising more questions here in “The Sun Shine State” as it hits close to home.

Living in Florida, beaches play an important part & outlet in residents lives as well as the economy. The government is alert of the repercussions and are attempting to alleviate the issue. Since the April explosion, Obama has pushed the energy agenda, so that we may find an alternative than drilling. We have military aid with finding alternatives to contain the spill, but it has already been brought to the attention that Florida will see affects in two days.

I only question with the attempts made so far and hurricane season around the corner, will our shores be safe soon, and will B.P. be able to be safe?

Your thoughts?

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