Community Discusses Gang Violence Upswing on Fond Du Lac Reservation
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FOND DU LAC RESERVATION-It has been one week since the discovery of 25-year-old Cristyna Watson's body near a property on Reservation Road.
Now an upswing of violence in the area has been reported to police
On Wednesday night neighbors reported hearing the sound of a gunshot. Fond du Lac Police Chief Sam Ojibway confirmed they are now investigating an attempted drive–by.
Police do not believe the shooting, which left none injured, is related to Watson's murder but suspicious still tie the activity to gang violence.
The violence is one of the topics explored at a community meeting on Thursday evening where people living on the reservation brainstormed ideas.
Fond du Lac Community Members closed the doors on media during sensitive discussions on the upswing in violence around the area.
On Thursday afternoon Carlton County's District Attorney charged four people with counts connected to the murder of Watson and some community members now say they fear the growing gang activity.
"It's heartbreaking because I have three little girls that I want to get to know their community member and be part of the community," community member Bettina Johnson said.
"With our culture it's a shame that we have people in our community that are trying to destroy that for us," Johnson said.
Johnson helped organize an anti-violence walk held earlier in the week. But some neighbors say authority–interaction with community members will be a more forceful source of change.
"This is definitely the most active time as far as gang activity," Police Chief Ojibway said.
"The suspected drive by shooting the other night doesn't look like it was connected to the homicide or what we are investigating. That's what I can say on that right now," Ojibway said.
Outside of the crime scenes the conversation happening at the Cloquet Community Center could be the start of better communications between neighbors and police.
"A lot of times people don't want to speak up if they know something for fear of retaliation," Police Chief Ojibway said.
"But this is our community. I live here too. This is where we're from. And as a community we need to stand up," Ojibway said.
"I, myself. Yeah, you worry about it," Johnson said.
"But I also worry about the community that my kids are growing up in as they grow older. And that worries me more," Johnson said.
