A few months ago Carlos Akino with his family from Bedford Park because of violence that broke out at a pizza shop right down the block from where he lived.
Carlos Akino a former resident of 204 street is one person who moved with his family to another neighborhood because of the shooting.
âÂÂIt was scaryâÂÂ, âÂÂhaving something like that happen so close to youâ said Carlos Akino a former resident of 204 street. âÂÂGeorges pizzeria was like the father of the neighborhoodâÂÂ. âÂÂIt was my after school hangoutâÂÂ. âÂÂThe food was good and neighborhood was calmerâÂÂ. Said Carlos.
Carlos also stated that he started notice graffiti starting booming more on building walls right after the shooting.
âÂÂEver since that shooting took place, stores have been closing down like wild fire,â he said. âÂÂIts hard enough that as storeowners we have to deal with problems in our every day lives, but to deal with violence on this is just ridiculousâÂÂ. Said Mr. Felix.
Since the shooting, Mr. Felix has closed his café.
The business owners of Bedford Park were not only ones affected though. Residents like Mrs. Rose who have been long time residents of 204 street have also noticed changes within the neighborhood.
âÂÂBedford was not always like thisâÂÂ. âÂÂThere was a time when everything was quiet, calm and relaxingâÂÂ. âÂÂThere was even a teashop I used to go, to get bubble tea and coffee.â âÂÂSadly it closed down right after the shootingâÂÂ.â ItâÂÂs a shame since that store was something new for the neighborhoodâÂÂ.
Mrs. Rose also replied by saying she would not move out of the neighborhood if the gang violence escalated. âÂÂJust because I am old; I am not going to let a bunch of street punks scare me out of my neighborhoodâÂÂ. Said Mrs. Rose.
This shooting has caused residents to move and stores to close down and move. In addition to all the chaos this shooting has caused Bedford Park, residents still donâÂÂt know why this John Doe was killed. While talking with a gang member, he gave me a little insight into why this incident happened.
âÂÂThey had to have killed him because he was probably from a rival gang member or he had started a problemâÂÂ. âÂÂThey would not have killed unless he had brought trouble upon himselfâÂÂ. Usually the only time when a gun is involved in gang activity is either for robbery, initiation, killing a rival gang member, or a personal vendettaâÂÂ. Said the Gang member.
The gang member also said âÂÂthis shooting should not escalate into a bigger problem, unless itâÂÂs a territory issueâÂÂ.
Consequently, the real damage has already been done to 204 street in Bedford Park. With the business owners starting to move and the residents packing their up, 204 street has really been hit with a bad case of domino effect. If residents and police donâÂÂt start working together to make sure Bedford does not get over run with gang violence just like Europe got over run by the black death, then 204 will continue suffer.
âÂÂI will let them take over my homeâÂÂ. Said Mrs. Rose. If residents of 204 street donâÂÂt start getting the same attitude as Mrs. Rose has, then residents of 204 street can expect more acts of gang an unrelated violence to come.