Leaders Decry Shooting At Community Center

Four days after a teenager was wounded in a storm of bullets fired into the Columbia Heights Community Center, city officials and community leaders went to the facility yesterday and issued another call to end the violence. This time, the urgency was underscored by the fact that the shooting occurred at what has been a haven for young people, they said.

On Monday night, 20 shell casings were found outside the center, in the 1400 block of Girard Street NW, police said.

"A group of youths gathered in the alley across the street and opened fire when this building was crowded, and one young person was shot in the hand," D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said. "This was a declaration against this building, and we are here today to say this building is going to stay open and it belongs to each and every one of us." Graham said he had learned that the shooting was gang-related.

His comments followed a meeting attended by more than 100 people. Among those taking part in the search for solutions were D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5), the principal of Bell Multicultural Senior High School, and anti-violence activists, including members of Peaceoholics and the Alliance of Concerned Men.

Jonathan Quinteros, 16, fought back tears as he talked about the attack on what he described as his home away from home.

"We have worked too hard for someone to just come in and destroy it," he said. "These people doing this, they don't care. A beef is nothing. It is not about Hispanic, African -- we are all one. Y'all got to understand, you can't be just killing each other. At the same time, I have brothers and sisters, and if anybody touches my brother, there is going to be a problem."

After his speech, Quinteros hugged Jasmine Stith, a 20-year-old youth leader who grew up in Columbia Heights. "It was devastating because I was here," Stith said. "I had kids. My whole thing was get the kids out of the way. We were just running everywhere."

Gail Oliver, director of the Columbia Heights Youth Center, said she wished that President-elect Barack Obama would use the basketball courts at the facility so that young people could have a positive role model.

"I would love to see President Barack Obama come to the facility and play basketball with some of our kids so that we can feel part of his agenda to make change across America."