Residents at town hall angry about East Side violence

Angry East Side community members gathered at a town hall Tuesday night to voice their opinions on a rash of five shootings involving one fatality in a week that began Dec. 20.

More than 200 residents packed into the meeting and another couple hundred were in an overflow room at the Barbara Jordan Community Center. The meeting was called by District 2 City Councilwoman Ivy Taylor. Several officials participated in the meeting, including San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed, Police Chief William McManus and several police officers.

The shootings were all gang related, many of them involving drugs and in some cases the victims were suspects in other shootings, McManus said.

See a video recap of the meeting provided by District 2.

Many residents were upset and angry, some yelling into the microphone about a pattern of what they see as being abandoned by the system. A couple blamed Taylor. Some said the police and the judicial system need to give stiffer punishment to those involved in serious crimes. Others offered ideas about better lighting and more resources in the area.

But McManus said police have saturated the area, making 57 arrests including 26 felonies, in 10 days. Two arrests were made in connection with the five shootings, he said.

McManus said what makes the shooting investigations challenging is that in many cases, the people involved—including the victims—are not talking. McManus asked people with information to report it to police. He also vowed to alleviate the violence on the East Side.

“We are not going to abandon you, McManus said. “We will continue to strategize until we drive this nonsense out of here.”

McManus said he knows the statistics of arrests don’t mean much to the victims of violent crimes. Charles English said his brother, Douglas Ray English, 47, was shot and killed Dec. 20 on Crockett Street.

Charles English displayed framed photos of his brother during the town hall and was one of dozens who voiced their concerns.

“My brother was shot seven times on the streets of San Antonio where he was raised,” he said. “We are outraged.”

San Antonio officials said there are plans to install a surveillance camera program such as downtown as well as new street lighting.

“We need to stay strong as a community and by the number in here tonight we are doing just that,” said Mayor Castro. “You have my commitment that we will be here for you.”

Photos by Nancy Preyor-Johnson. The picture to the right shows SAPD Chief William McManus sitting with Charles English, whose brother was shot and killed late last month. A picture of homicide victim Douglas Ray English can be seen in the background.

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Below is a collection of online reaction from community members and additional media coverage.