NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk family has taken extreme measures to keep their children away from what they say are gangs, but their kids’ tormentors are not teenagers or even middle-schoolers. These organized bullies are age 12 and under.
A shaken and shocked mother has moved out of Norfolk so her two boys could live and learn in peace, and their grandmother said these audacious gang members scoff at adults who try to protect their children.
Remember when you were in 5th grade? Norfolk grandmother Wanda Reynolds does, but she doesn’t recall there being any gangs.
Her two grandsons used to go to school in Norfolk, until the middle of this year. That’s when the pressure and the threats got to be too much at Tanners Creek Elementary, especially for the older of her two grandsons, age 11.
“He was telling me that this kid used to try to get him to go into a gang and he told them no,” Reynolds said. “The kid would constantly harass him, not just him, but like his couple of cousins and I guess a brother. They would all constantly pick with them and try to fight them. And he couldn’t go into the bathrooms because they would be waiting for him.”
“It’s really just a disastrous path,” said April Lewis, the boys’ mother. “These little elementary school children are just really exhibiting a lot of strong adult behaviors, negative adult behaviors.”
Lewis also attended Norfolk schools. She said the pressure on her 11-year old extended beyond school grounds.
“They were fighting him, picking on him, calling him names,” Lewis said, “trying to get other children against him because he wouldn’t join the gang, even outside of school.”
Lewis has told teachers and administrators at Tanners Creek that she believes it’s a sign of a much bigger problem.
“And when I brought up about the gang violence, their excuse was, ‘we can’t prove that,'” she said. “Even though these children are throwing up gang signs, talking about gangs and such. I feel like a lot of the older children and adults in in certain communities are kind of grooming these children to join gangs at a young age.”
Lewis and Reynolds both told us they believe the 11 and 12-year-olds are learning it from adults at home.
Norfolk Public Schools sent us this statement:
“Norfolk Public Schools does not comment on confidential student matters. Please be assured that appropriate discipline is assigned to any student found in violation of the Norfolk Public Schools Student Code of Conduct. The safety and security of our students and staff remains our priority.
We encourage families to report concerns by calling or texting Vector Alert at 757-255-7461 or by sending an email to 2110@alert1.us. In emergencies, please call 911.
Families are also encouraged to visit the Norfolk Public Schools website at https://www.npsk12.com/Page/10074 for additional resources. We all play a role in the safety and security of our schools, and we appreciate our students’ and families’ partnership.”
Lewis and Reynolds say they’ve alerted Norfolk police as well, and so did we.
Reynolds said these organized bullies are reaching new levels of bold and brazen. About four months ago, they saw her with her grandsons at a Subway restaurant, and crossed over Military Highway to confront them. The presence of an adult was no deterrent.
“They were cussing me out,” Reynolds said. “I told them [I was the grandmother]. They didn’t care.”
Reynolds stood her ground in the face of the young gang members.
“I didn’t back down,” Reynolds said. “I’m not scared of them. But I told my grandsons, I don’t want you being nowhere around these boys.”
Lewis and her boys have moved to another city in Hampton Roads, another school division. But the family’s tradition in Norfolk schools appears to have come to an end.
“If the school systems were better, I would have stayed in Norfolk,” Lewis said. “I love Norfolk.”
Here’s what we’ve gathered from schools and police elsewhere in Hampton Roads regarding gangs and children under 12:
Norfolk Police — “Although children under the age of 12 are not typically found to be the ones directly involved in any type of organized criminal activities that are taking place, there are times when children under the age 12 are seen by investigators in environments with older peers who are involved in organized criminal activities.
“Investigators with the Norfolk Police Department’s Gang Unit visit schools and community venues to speak with youth of all ages about the dangers of gangs and provide them with gang awareness literature. Should someone wish to speak with a Gang Investigator to report possible gang related activities, the Norfolk Police Department’s Gang Unit can be reached at 757-664-7035.”
Chesapeake Police — “Gang activity by pre-teens is typically via association within the familial structure and affiliation by neighborhoods that hybrid/local gangs operate in. Our outreach involves direct intervention of at-risk youth through parental contact and resource referral accomplished through school visits and educational presentations.”
Newport News Police — “We have not seen gang involvement with children 11 or below. We do not have specific programs, however our officers work very closely with the NNPS’ Level Up! and RISE Programs, whose missions really align with preventing this type of behavior.”
Portsmouth Police — “The Portsmouth Police Department offers two programs to school-age children related to gang prevention: The Gang Resistance Education and Training program and the Public Safety Presentation program. The G.R.E.A.T. Program is an evidenced-based curriculum led by Crime Prevention and Community Enhancement officers, and its objective is to inoculate elementary-aged students from gang membership and associated activities. The Public Safety Presentation program uses McGruff the Crime Dog materials.
In addition, Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen Jenkins gave this statement regarding young children in gangs: “We are also mindful not to hastily label our youngest and most vulnerable individuals as gang members before they have the chance to overcome the challenges of youth. We recognize that our young people, including elementary students, are in desperate search of structure and accountability, attributes they sometimes mistakenly associate with gang membership or affiliation.”
Virginia Beach Police — “All of the youth programs that we offer are available to view on our website: https://police.virginiabeach.gov/community/youth-services.”