In the heart of the Motor City, gangs are committing the kinds of crimes that strike fear into the community. Vicious carjackings, shootings and other violence crimes. They open fire on their rivals, along with innocent victims.
"Most of us have been outraged by how many young people have been caught in the crossfire of gang violence," U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said. "So many kids, so many young people."
McQuade knows what it takes to stop violent gangs. She recently charged two members of the 6 Mile Chedda Grove Gang in a shooting that killed a 13-year-old girl near a market in the middle of the afternoon.
Edwin Mills, 26, and Caro Wilson, 22, both from Detroit, are now in custody for the Dec. 1 shooting that also killed a 21-year-old driver.
7 Action News reporter Simon Shaykhet even found gangs still marking their territory near Denby High School.
The 6 Mile Chedda Grove gang is one of a few top gangs on the radar of the FBI Violent Task Force. Others include the 6 Mile Bloods and Knock Out Boys on the east side, the Latin Counts and Surrenos in southwest Detroit, and the Rollin 60s Crips and 7 Mile Bloods.
Now, gangs like the 60s crips are recruiting in places like West Bloomfield and the 7 Mile Bloods found young soldiers in Eastpointe.
"They're mostly neighborhood based gangs, so they'll have a certain territory or blocks marked out in the neighborhood. That becomes in essence their turf," Retired FBI Gang & Drug Unit Supervisor Andy Bartnowak said.
Prosecutors are using new tools to help get the gang members off the streets.
Watch Simon Shaykhet's report in the video player above.
