New beginnings for a family of seven from Venezuela, who is now looking to start their new life in Chicago. The family arrived from the southern border last.
Police said Steven Montano, 18, ran away from police as the officer chased after him, and that s when, prosecutors said, the two exchanged gunfire. Officer Vasquez-Lasso was shot five times, and died from his wounds.
In recent weeks, children as young as three years old have been caught by crossfire in incidents of gun violence. Oftentimes those pulling the trigger are themselves very young. But community groups and anti-violence organizations are mobilizing to stop violence before it starts through outreach and intervention.
Group forms to provide holistic approach to preventing crime chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Rosas is part of the mentoring program, which he said has changed his life.
“It’s really helped me,” he said. “I was lost for a long time and then he’s [mentor] always one phone call away if I’m in trouble or need somebody to talk to late at night.”
New Life Centers in Little Village offers a number of different programs, including street intervention. Outreach workers hit the streets several nights a week trying to engage with young men who may need extra guidance and support.
“Not everybody has an older brother, an uncle, a father in the picture so we kinda fill that role in the community when need be,” said street outreach worker Taulino Vargas.