Residents say more police patrols, community mentoring needed in Montgomery neighborhoods
Right around the corner from where 64 year old grandmother Gloria Crews was shot and killed in her yard on Mother’s Day, another family understands the heartache of losing a loved one to a senseless act of gun violence. Aaron and Adam Jordan were not just identical twins, they were best friends. The two youngest of four siblings, they made music together as the R& B Rap group “Soo Real” and they were inseparable.
But tragedy struck on November 9, 2018 when Adam stopped at a gas station and was killed by a stranger who shot up the convenience store. “He was a loving caring person who would give you anything. He would give you the shirt off his back.. He was an honest person, and he was a loving father. He was a loving son and a loving brother as well,” says Jordan. Jordan and his mother live right down the street from where Gloria Crews – a grandmother and beloved neighbor – was killed on Mother’s Day two weeks ago. Â “When that happened right down the street, that was so devastating for the entire community, really devastating. I think we need to come together as a community and mentor this younger generation,” says Jordan. And he believes police officers need to show more of a presence in the neighborhoods. “They come when something happens, but it would be better if they would just ride through all the time. It would prevent a lot of things from happening.” We spoke with other residents in nearby neighborhoods who agreed that more police patrols would help with the growing crime problem.
Warrenton Estates off Virginia Loop Road is in City Councilman Oronde Mitchell’s district, and he says keeping young people busy this summer is key. Â “MPS will always do programs during the summer for enrichment. Also, the community centers will be open from 8am to 8pm, so we’re doing everything to get those kids off the streets. You have a lot of things that are available, you just have to take advantage of it. I tell parents don’t wait until tomorrow, go ahead and start doing it today,” Mitchell says. Jordan says, “We need people like myself out here trying to mentor the younger generation, and we need to put the guns down and pick up more Bibles.”
A $20-thousand reward has been offered for any information about Gloria Crews’ homicide. If you have a tip, call Crime Stoppers at 215-STOP.
