MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Senseless, violent killings are ravaging the streets of Memphis. The Bluff City ranks near the top when it comes to homicide. Forbes Magazine ranked Memphis as the 4th most dangerous city in the country. The Memphis Police Department has responded to more than 100 homicides this year. Two people were killed Saturday in broad daylight.
Residents say children are becoming more violent because that's what they see on television and in their neighborhoods. Parents are tired of having their children witness these violent crimes and say there is only so much they can do before another person is killed.
According to Memphis Police there are 113 criminal homicides this year, including 2 killed on Saturday, October 20. Neighbors say 21-year-old Jeremy Burns lost his life over a game of dominos. Police charged two men, Greg Johnston and Darion Hines, with first degree murder.
"The guy got angry, he left, and got a gun. He came back and shot the 21-year-old,” said a neighbor Betty Ross.
Ross says her South Memphis neighborhood is peaceful but lately thugs have taken over and the children are witnessing all the violence.
"I get so scared when I hear gunshots,” said 6-year-old Jayden Dickerson.
A 33-year-old man was also killed Saturday when two guys tried to come into his uncle's Whitehaven home. The uncle didn't want his face shown because he's afraid the shooters will come back.
"They snatched the door open, came in with two 9mm pistols, and put one in my head and put the other on my nephew," said the uncle. "My nephew got shot twice and the guys didn't mention anything about a robbery or anything and I’ve never seen those guys before in my life."
Overall crime hasn't gone down in Memphis. Councilman Harold Collins blames high unemployment.
"You have people that are frustrated and tired and their anger escalades,” said Collins. “I'm sure that Director Armstrong and the mayor has a plan that will get us off that list."
Memphis Police Association President Michael Williams says in order to stop the killings parents need to step up.
"We have to educate parents. We have a lot of parents that are allowing the schools to raise their children. They think the police will keep their children in line, and that's not it, you have to teach them moral values,” said Williams.
Under certain circumstances some of the homicides in Memphis have been ruled justified, which means they were committed in self defense or to protect another person. Memphis Police only released this year's number of criminal homicides, which is 113, not the total number of homicides for the year 2012.
