GRAND RAPIDS , Mich, — Jalen M. Thomas is in critical condition after being shot in the back on Grand Rapids Southeast side Sunday morning.
Thomas, 17, was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries, leading to an an increased police presence at the intersection of Franklin Street and Eastern Avenue SE, where the shooting happened.
Since June 1, crimemapping.com shows there have been more than 150 crimes within a half mile radius.
Greg Kazemier lives at the intersection and he says he’s seen it all. “It gets pretty violent, a lot of guns” Kazemier said.
Assaults make up nearly 40 percent of those crimes, including three murder attempts just this month.
Kazemier says drugs are the city’s biggest plight and the reason for the violence. “Four of us were sitting on the porch drinking beer. We counted 168 crack sales,” he said.
Police say they’re looking for a light-skinned black male wearing all dark clothing and possibly a hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information on the shooting should call the Grand Rapids Police Department or the Silent Observer tip line at (616) 774-2345.
