A shooting at a high school graduation may be shocking to the public, but in the gang world gun-wielding violence at high-profile events is not uncommon, says a community activist and former gang member.
"The more brazen the action of a gang member, it creates the mentality in Latino gangs that he's a vato loco or crazy guy. To African-American gangs, it may be that he's hard-core or a straight-up gangster," said Tommy Vallejos, a former gang member turned pastor.
"To get the label of being hard and not afraid of law enforcement, not afraid to bust a cap, that's a legend that's in the gang allure that somebody's a crazy guy."
Police think that's what happened Monday when a gunman fatally shot Andreus Taylor, 21, after the Maplewood High School graduation ceremony at Tennessee State University's Gentry Complex. Investigators say Taylor was not a member of a gang but he socialized with the Bloods street gang — and that may be what got him killed. He was also wearing a red shirt, the color worn by the Bloods.
Taylor was shot in the face and upper body as he left the auditorium's lobby. The shooting sparked pandemonium as the crowd fled from the sound of gunfire, and the gunman disappeared in the commotion. He was wearing a purple shirt and black pants, but those are not colors associated with any gang. Still, police think there is a gang connection.
"We do know when a lot of gang members do get together it's usually not a planned event,'' said Capt. Todd Henry of the Metro gang unit. "They may know each other's gonna be there, but it's just a spur-of-the- moment action that takes place. It could be because one gang thinks another gang is disrespecting them. It could be the throwing of hand signs or the wearing of colors. Most times, these gang members aren't so sophisticated that they make plans to do this. Unfortunately, they come prepared for trouble, which is apparently what happened" Monday.
