Pubdate: Wed, 09 Aug 2000
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  #250, 4990-92 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 3A1 Canada
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Website: http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSun/
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Author: Kim Bradley

'IT WILL GO ON AND ON'

Girl Says Someone Will Die Before Gang War Ends

A girl who knows quarrelling gang members suspected in a pair of Mill Woods
shootings said the long-standing drug feud won't end until someone dies -
and even that's no guarantee.

"It will go on and on until they die and even then it might get worse,"
said the 22-year-old girl who didn't want her name printed for fear the
next bullets that fly will be aimed at her.

"They have brothers, cousins, people who have their backs (covered). This
is not going to end any time soon."

STEALING DRUGS

The woman said she went to school with members belonging to gangs known on
the south side as the Blacks and the Browns. She was also at a Mill Woods
bar a year ago when one rival shot another in the face. He lived.

"We saw them all there before it happened and we knew something was going
down," she said.

The feud dates back years when one group started stealing drug customers
from the other, she recalls.

"They deal only in the white stuff," she said of the drug the gangs deal in
- - cocaine.

"That's big money. One day they're driving these old junkers and the next
day they're showing up in big expensive rides.

"You know who's who then."

Cops are still investigating two weekend shootings in Mill Woods in which a
pair of nearby houses were shot up by people in passing vehicles. No one
was hurt in either shooting.

The first happened Saturday just before 10 p.m. at a home near 36 Avenue
and 38 Street.

The second happened around the same time on Monday near 45 Street and 27
Avenue.

Cop spokesman Dean Parthenis said gang unit members are investigating and
have not confirmed the two are related.

Nor have they confirmed they are related to shootings involving suspected
gang members dating back to 1996, he said.

"We're not getting co-operation from people who live in the houses and we
don't know who's telling the truth and who isn't," he said. "But there's a
possibility they may be related."

SAME PLAYERS

One south-side police source said the cops suspect the same players are
involved, but if they have any confirmation of that they'd have suspects in
custody already.

"We know there are two groups down there who don't like each other and they
are being investigated," said the cop.

"We would hope to be able to put a lid on this before it escalates any
further.

"This is more serious than people may believe. This is not child's play and
.40-calibre pistols are not toys."
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MAP posted-by: Eric Ernst