Blood in the Street

from left to right: D. Allen, EB Mansfield, and D. Benbow

They’re not scared and they ain’t playin.

Local criminals have matured recently. Former street ‘jits’ have grown into full blown gangsters.

Brutal. Heartless. Killers.

Every day now, we hear about new killings, shootings. Brutality that competes with the Baghdad headlines.

And for what?

A few weeks ago, in what I thought was outrageous and bold, career criminals Devaris Danell Allen, 22, Derrick Jerome Benbow, 24, and EB Mansfield, 27, shot four people at the Bourdeaux Apartments on Mercy Drive.

The shooting took place in broad daylight killing Eric M. Guillet, 34, and Henry Arnell Weston, 33. It also injured two others. Like the wild-wild west these killers had no regard for the heavily populated area and would have killed children if only it were later in the day.

Fortunately, these losers were already in jail on unrelated charges, including a deadly home invasion .

But, time is no deterrent and age no barrier to a killer.

Recently, in a late night display of barbarism, a drive by shooting at Church and The Trail targeted seven children, ages 13 through 17. Four of the victims were girls.

And, just this past week, Jamie Terell Cockfield made the news when he shot up the Security Inn on West Colonial. Apparently, he wanted to beat his pregnant girlfriend, but someone intervened. Blam. Blam.

But, wait here comes the calvary. Whoops, I mean Operation: All Hands on Deck. Orlando Police have decided to deploy more senior officers, including Chief McCoy himself, to focus on Parramore, Mercy Drive, Kirkman Road, Washington Shores, Rosemont, and a part of Semoran Boulevard near S.R. 408.

This announcement comes after the feds announced they are on their way to Orlando to help fight crime. ATF and FBI agents are being sent to battle guns and gangs. The first are set to arrive in early July.

Maybe, its time to take a second look at this criminal activity.

Is it really the fault of society that some people get off on shooting people while committing crimes?

Could it be that these criminals didn’t go to church enough as children, or maybe it was the lack of a father figure growing up that has forced them to shoot at other children from cars.

A murderer is a murderer. Lets keep it simple here. These killers deserve everything that they have coming to them and they need to be treated accordingly.

To many groups here in Orlando want to blame everyone except the criminals.
To all of you out there who feel more compassion for the criminals than their undeserving victims, I suggest you offer yourself up as the next victims.

Just go into one of the areas now targeted by OPD under Operation: All Hands on Deck and volunteer to be robbed, carjacked or shot. I’m sure the residents living in fear will appreciate your efforts.