Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter ... CRIME Gang shooting traumatizes west Medford Residents afraid to go out at night in neighborhood near Union Park By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 14, 2015 @ 5:05 pm By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 14, 2015 @ 5:05 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A drive-by shooting Tuesday night terrified residents of a west Medford neighborhood who already were afraid of going outside their homes at night. “It was terrible,” Ellen Nolan said. “My three grandchildren have been traumatized.” Medford police arrested 20-year-old Juan Antonio Gonzalez-Marquez, a suspected Norteno gang member, about one hour after the 8:12 p.m. shooting on Prune Street near Union Park. According to police, Gonzalez-Marquez is suspected of shooting 22-year-old Alex Adrian Enriquez, who remains in critical condition at a Medford hospital after suffering gunshot injuries to his upper torso and leg. Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said investigators have determined the drive-by shooting was gang related. Nolan, 73, said it’s too bad the city spent so much money on Union Park only to have it taken over by gang activity. She said the market on Columbus Avenue also attracts drug dealers and other criminal behavior. “The gang people have no respect for life or property,” Nolan said. Residents who were home at the time heard two shots. Yurice Alfaro pointed to the sidewalk outside her home where she said the shooting took place. “The guy started screaming,” 18-year-old Alfaro said. “He was crying in pain.” She said she saw the victim and his girlfriend a little earlier walking eastbound on Prune, and then heard two gunshots several minutes later after she went inside. The victim was shot on the sidewalk in front of her home, she said. “I saw the guy lying down. My older sister came out and put pressure on the guy” to stop the bleeding, Alfaro said. Resident Amber Johnson said she heard the shots while standing in her backyard with her boyfriend. “I heard two really loud screams,” the 16-year-old said. Johnson said she saw someone pressing down on the victim’s chest to keep the blood from flowing out. Like many residents, Johnson said the neighborhood isn’t very safe. “At night, it’s not a good time to be out,” she said. Jeremy Roarty, who lives about 50 feet from where the shooting took place, said he heard screaming and called 911 but didn’t venture outside because it's so unsafe. “I’ve heard gunshots before and lots of fighting,” the 42-year-old said. “I was telling my wife we should move to L.A. It would be safer.” Roarty said he’s called 911 on many occasions, and he said the latest drive-by shooting has convinced him that it might be better to move out. Karen Chadwick said she heard a “pop, pop” and thought a car might have backfired, but then realized they were gunshots. Chadwick said the neighborhood seems to attract a criminal element. “I pretty much stay inside my house,” she said. One resident who declined to be identified said the victim was a gang member who goes by the name of “Bravo,” which Budreau confirmed. “Everything around here is gang-related,” the resident said. Beatrice Rikard, who has lived in the area for two years, said the shooting is one of many acts of violence in her neighborhood. “We had a stabbing in our parking lot,” the 48-year-old said. “We had somebody who jumped an old man in Union Park.” While many residents thought they should move out, Nolan, who has owned her house for 14 years, thinks the neighborhood should band together to stop criminal activity. “I don’t think neighbors should move out,” she said. “We need to fight to keep these people out.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 14, 2015 @ 5:05 pm » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501