I’ve received this identical message twice in the last week…
The Metro Juvenile DA’s office say they have received “credible” information from their Gang prevention unit that there is about to be a major surge in gang initiations over the next few weeks. These initiations involve random shootings that are required to “make it” into the gang. They are especially going to be targeting women and unsuspecting people out in shopping mall parking lots. They are supposedly going to be coming up and asking for directions. They are urging everyone to be VERY cautious and VERY aware of your surroundings. Which I know we all should be anyway, but one more warning sure can’t hurt. PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!
To anyone who receives this message please consult Snopes. They even have a quote direct from Sheriff Newell Normand:
We have checked with all of the appropriate law enforcement agencies throughout this region concerning an email being circulated mentioning gang related material. We have determined there is no evidence to support it’s validity.
To anyone who cares, I think it is safe to assume all “gang initiation” warnings are BS. Gangs exist to stay alive and continue dealing drugs and making money. They are like many other entities in that manner. Many of the crimes they perpetrate are in the process of some money-making event: Burglary, robbery, drug dealing, killing customers who don’t pay up, killing rivals over territory to deal drugs. if it don’t make dollars, it don’t make sense. Innocent victims sometimes get caught in the midst of these crimes but rarely does this occur as a means to “make it” into the gang. Members are often “jumped in” to the gang by having older members beat him in some sort of ceremony.
I remember this urban legend surfacing about 15 years ago.
Yes, it’s at epidemic levels now. I have a friend whose dad works at the FBI and he is VERY concerned!
Like Gang initiations aren’t any worse that what we already got going on?
I got this email from the 2nd District:
Please note that this information is not true. There is no Metro Juvenile DA’s Office – it does not exist. In speaking with the NOPD and JPSO Intelligence Unit’s, there is absolutely no credible information that this has occurred, or is about to occur. I also checked with the District Attorney’s Office and the NOPD Crime Prevention Unit – they have heard nothing about this alleged activity.
I believe this email to be nothing more than a hoax. If you look on http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/directions.asp, you will see a strikingly similar hoax involving gang initiations. This email is just the latest spin on an old hoax that has been flying around cyber space.
Captain Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department