How Many More Gonna Be Knockin' On Heavens Door

WaYs LiNn - Knockin' on heaven's door

Don't get me wrong; I believe in the US Constitution and the Second Amendment. Will Someone please tell me why we need Assault Weapons on the Street. The story below is heart wrenching. It's not the first time this has happened here and I imagine in other towns as well.

Shots kill girl, 12, in N. Side house

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

By Wade Malcolm, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A 12-year-old girl was shot to death and her mother was wounded last night in a house in Perry South on the North Side, and police said the neighborhood has been the scene of several shootings in recent days.

At least 40 shots were fired from an assault-style rifle at a house on Brightridge Street. The shots tore through a door and a boarded up window, hitting people inside the house.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the shooting.

At least seven people were inside the house at the time of the shooting, which occurred about 7:15 p.m.

Police Chief Nathan Harper said officers found at least 40 shell casings outside the house.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office identified the victim as Jolesa Barber, 12. She did not live at that address, but lived in the neighborhood, a medical examiner's spokeswoman said.

"The people on this street, they are scared, and you can't blame them when there's 40 rounds being shot into a house with an assault-type rifle," Chief Harper said.

"What's so serious that you have to put kids in harm's way," he added. "There's no rhyme or reason for that."

The woman and the girl were both taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where the girl died at 7:38 p.m. The mother was in critical condition but was expected to survive.

Five other people in the house were taken in for questioning.

Police had no description of any suspects or a vehicle they might have been in.

Chief Harper said the neighborhood has been the scene of several shootings and disturbances recently. He said there had been at least five calls of shots fired in that neighborhood in the last week.

That same house was hit by gunfire about a week ago. A nearby house on Brightridge was struck by shotgun fire Sunday night.

Police last night found a handgun in a nearby parking lot, but it was not clear whether it was connected to the shooting.

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The Story doesn't mention that Jolesa Barber was a bright kid that did well in school and and was in an after school program cause she wanted to go to college. It doesn't show her teachers and principal crying when they were interviewed on TV. Since the story broke they have busted two men. One is 15 years old and the shooting is gang related.

I ask you: HOW MANY MORE KIDS HAVE TO DIE BEFORE AK-47's and GUNS LIKE THEM ARE OUTLAWED?