Something that’s been on my mind is how often innocent people can get caught up in this cycle of violence. Cristobal didn't even have anything to do with gangs, and yet he found himself in this terrible situation. It's so upsetting to think that a young man's life was cut short over something as trivial as a piece of clothing. I really feel for his family and brothers, who were right there and had to witness the whole thing. It just feels so unnecessary and tragic. I hope that discussions around this case can help bring some change and prevent this from happening to other families in the future. The fact that Shareese Smith had a weapon on him makes me think about how easily accessible guns are, even for those who shouldn’t have them. Does anyone know if there have been any community responses or initiatives in Queens to help stop this kind of violence?
