Arlington Police investigators are investigating the 16th murder of the year in the city, two of which have occurred in separate incidents since Friday.
According to the police, both incidents involved alleged underage shooters who are in custody.
“We had these young children who got hold of guns and committed violent crimes here in Arlington,” said Arlington Police Chief Al Jones. “Unfortunately we see this all too often, and not just here in Arlington.”
The most recent murder occurred on Sunday afternoon in a park in East Arlington on Greenway Street.
Two young men quarreled on social media and decided to meet in the park to fight, Jones said.
When a 21-year-old showed up, a 17-year-old suspect opened fire and killed him, according to police.
“The suspect was 17 and the victim was 21,” said Jones. “So we have another young person who is committing violent crimes here.”
The police rushed to another pointless scene of gun violence on Friday in broad daylight.
Two teenage brothers, 17-year-old Kaleb Williams and 13-year-old Joshua Williams, were shot dead in a fight near an apartment complex in southeast Arlington.
According to police, the confrontation began in a nearby hair salon and spilled over into the apartments.
A third youth, who was shot and injured, faces two cases of capital murder.
Three guns were seized by the police, Jones said.
It was a scene that Glynda Williams had to see for herself on Friday.
“I haven’t combed my hair. I just got outside because I didn’t think it would happen again, ”she said.
Williams still mourns her own loss. She said her 18-year-old son was shot dead in an alley near another teenager late last year.
“We’re losing our babies,” she called. “It’s heartbreaking! I am a disbelief. I’m really.”
There were 16 murders in Arlington that year, according to the Department. The city is likely to top 17 murders, the total number of murders in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in killings, with 23 reported in the city over the past year.
Ending gun violence, Jones stresses, needs to involve everyone, including parents and teenagers, to learn “how to mitigate incidents without the use of force”.
Jones commended his detectives for resolving both cases within 24 hours and for partnering with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to track down every weapon found by the police.
“We want to know where those guns come from, and we want to hold onto the people who put guns in these kids’ hands – we want to hold these people accountable,” he said.
Williams stressed the need for more community programs that provide safe activities for teens.
“We need the Arlington Police Department to come in and see that there are guns in our community, we need them,” she said. “We need the parents, if you see these guns in your house, get them out!”