0:00:02 > 0:00:09Contains some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14Her name is Ashley Hardmon.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17She played basketball. Those are her jerseys.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21This is one of her trophies.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24I think this one she won for a place in a...
0:00:24 > 0:00:25- That was this year?- Yeah.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Two months ago, Ashley was shot dead.
0:00:30 > 0:00:35It's a wake-up call. It's a wake-up call to every...
0:00:36 > 0:00:38It's a wake-up call.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Ashley was just 19
0:00:40 > 0:00:45when she was killed in the city she grew up in - Chicago.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Cops saw us! Run!
0:00:47 > 0:00:49We got shots fired over here.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53'Chicago is now the murder capital of the United States.'
0:00:53 > 0:00:58'Since 2001, 2,000 troops have died in Afghanistan,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01'while 5,000 have died in Chicago.'
0:01:01 > 0:01:05I don't want to sell drugs, I don't want to carry a gun.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07It's easy to say but it's hard to do.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11I've come to Chicago to find out why young people like Ashley
0:01:11 > 0:01:12are dying.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Do you all know someone who's been shot?
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Yeah. A lot of them.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22And what it's like growing up in one of the most dangerous cities
0:01:22 > 0:01:24in America.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26You know, we're not in a war zone,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29we're not in a country that's going through civil war, you know?
0:01:29 > 0:01:30We're in Chicago.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42This is Chicago. It's the third-largest city in America.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53My first time here.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55I guess it's typical of an impressive, huge
0:01:55 > 0:01:58city in the States - bustling, very busy.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01There's a huge financial district.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04It's hard to imagine that this place has one of the highest murder
0:02:04 > 0:02:07rates for under-25s in the whole of the US.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21I'm heading out to meet Ashley Hardmon's family.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25They live in Austin, a neighbourhood about ten miles from the city
0:02:25 > 0:02:26centre.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28ICE CREAM VAN PLAYS TUNE
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Hey.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Oh, from England. It's...
0:02:36 > 0:02:38She from England.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39Roger. What?
0:02:39 > 0:02:41From England.
0:02:41 > 0:02:42- England?- London.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Ashley's 15-year-old brother, Anthony Jr, has agreed to
0:02:45 > 0:02:48show me around the area.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53So, Anthony, down the bottom of this road is your sister's memorial.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Yeah, it was her memorial.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Actually, the corner we're about to step on is where the shooters
0:02:58 > 0:03:00was aiming from, this corner right here.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04They was in the middle of the street and my sister was on the upper
0:03:04 > 0:03:06side of the corner.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08- This corner?- Yeah.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11The shots rang quick.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Ashley took off, trying to get away
0:03:13 > 0:03:17but she got hit in the back of the head.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24I see her and I get over to my dad, he move me out the way,
0:03:24 > 0:03:26he pulls her hoodie back.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Her brain is showing.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35And all the people that she was with,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37you feel like someone saw something.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Yeah. Someone seen something.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43But what, they're too scared?
0:03:43 > 0:03:44Yeah.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48That's her memorial.
0:03:48 > 0:03:49Yeah.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53It's kept nice, though, right?
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Yeah. My sister Latasia made that poster over there.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59You see, you got the music and the basketball?
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Ah. So that's been up there since she died?
0:04:06 > 0:04:10That's what you call normal when things happen so often, you know?
0:04:11 > 0:04:13It's not surprising.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Only thing that was surprising to me, that it
0:04:15 > 0:04:18was my daughter and it was my child.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23But we been round here all our life.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25My father been round here all his life.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27We were basically born in this neighbourhood, so...
0:04:27 > 0:04:30..we never had any issues,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33no gun violence, anything.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35That has changed.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39So...my sister wasn't, like, no bad person.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42She wasn't perfect but she wasn't a bad person.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44She didn't have any malice.
0:04:44 > 0:04:45Mm.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47She was just coming from school.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51It wasn't, like, she was only, like, around the block from, like, home.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52Right around the corner.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54That's the thing, isn't it? She's, like...
0:04:54 > 0:04:57..19 years old, round the corner from her family home,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59she's from a lovely
0:04:59 > 0:05:02family, she's not involved with any of that carry on and she gets shot.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03It's crazy.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12- Hello. - Hi there.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Sorry. Thank you for letting me come into your home.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- No problem.- I really appreciate it.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18That's all right.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19Thank you.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Maybe your dad struggles.
0:05:26 > 0:05:27He struggles.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30He have breakdowns every night, you know?
0:05:30 > 0:05:32I hear that anger.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35It's, like, so destructive, like the world is ending
0:05:35 > 0:05:38when he screams that,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40"No! No!"
0:05:40 > 0:05:42But it's, like, all the time.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49- Excuse me. - Sorry.- It's OK.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53SIRENS WAIL
0:05:55 > 0:05:56Can you hear that?
0:05:56 > 0:06:01So that's me. I've just left the house, just said goodbye.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06There's a siren a couple of roads away. It's...
0:06:06 > 0:06:09just confirming everything that we've just spoken about.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11There's a car coming down the road now
0:06:11 > 0:06:14with a couple of lads in it and the music going off.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19It's a reality.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Innocent families like the Hardmons
0:06:22 > 0:06:25seem to be caught in the middle of gang warfare
0:06:25 > 0:06:28that's taking over their neighbourhood.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38So this website is astonishing.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43It lists the names of everyone that's been shot dead per month.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49There she is, Ashley Hardmon.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52198th person to be shot this year.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00We're on the 16th day of this month
0:07:00 > 0:07:04and we've already lost one, two, three, four, five, ten, 15, 20.
0:07:06 > 0:07:0920 people have been shot dead this month in Chicago.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15Half of these people won't have reached their 25th birthday.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19This is a huge epidemic.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22It's frightening, it's scary.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23It's mad.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28ON RADIO: 931 Leather, 931 Leather.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30I have a 21-year-old male shot...
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Ashley was killed in the neighbourhood of Austin.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35It's known for gang crime,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38but it's not the only neighbourhood that this is happening in.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39The bulk of the gang violence
0:07:39 > 0:07:42is spread across 28 different neighbourhoods
0:07:42 > 0:07:44on the west and south sides of Chicago.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48With nearly 70,000 members,
0:07:48 > 0:07:52Chicago is the most gang-populated city in America -
0:07:52 > 0:07:54that according to the FBI.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00To get a better picture of what is happening in this city,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03I'm going on patrol with the sheriff's special gang unit.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06- Hello. - Hi.- How are you?
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- Good, how are you? - I'm Stacey.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10- Danielle. - Really nice to meet you.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12- Hello. All right? - Hey Stacey, how you doing?
0:08:12 > 0:08:13Have I caught you in lunch?
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Yeah, you gotta eat good before you fight crime.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18'I'm joining Officer Eddy B and Officer Red.'
0:08:19 > 0:08:22It is exciting. I'm also a tiny bit nervous,
0:08:22 > 0:08:23but we'll be fine, won't we?
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Sh, riding with some of the best officers we got out there.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27- Uh-huh.- Of course.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30You're guaranteed to have some fun with us.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36All right, you ready to get suited up here?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Put this on over you.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Not, you know, too tight but you can adjust those.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44It's just the heart that I'm quite concerned about.
0:08:48 > 0:08:49This is us?
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Are we under cover?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54I've never been in an undercover cop car.
0:08:54 > 0:08:55A beautiful experience.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02'We're going on patrol in Ford Heights,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05'one of the poorest areas on the south side.'
0:09:09 > 0:09:11This guy here right now, what we going to do,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13we going to have a talk with him.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Oh, gosh. Oh. Uh-oh. Oh, gosh.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21'There are two main rival gangs -
0:09:21 > 0:09:24the Four Corner Hustlers and the Gangster Disciples,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26who control the area.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32The minute you drive into this neighbourhood, it's like,
0:09:32 > 0:09:33"Boof!" You know, this...
0:09:35 > 0:09:39..is gang banging territory and they don't muck about, you know?
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Now, you getting a ticket for drinking alcohol on a public way.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47He has a prior gang background,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49and I think he's got 26 previous arrests.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51- His last one... - 26?
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Some for guns, some for narcotics
0:09:54 > 0:09:57and various other misdemeanours and felonies.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00In speaking to the police, it's become apparent very quickly
0:10:00 > 0:10:04that gang bangers, gangs and drugs all go together,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06more often than not hand in hand.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20How do you determine, how do you know who's in a gang?
0:10:20 > 0:10:25They can be recognised by the colours that they wear.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27And other ways - tattoos with their symbols.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29With the Latin Kings, you have the crown.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32They're going to have the five-point star.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45There's a lot of open-air drug markets out in this area.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49They sell drugs in broad daylight?
0:10:49 > 0:10:50- Yes.- Yeah.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54You'll see a lot of abandoned buildings -
0:10:54 > 0:10:56falling apart, dilapidated.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59So this isn't unusual in Ford Heights, right?
0:10:59 > 0:11:01- No.- We see this all the time? - Yes.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Is it OK to have a look at this?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- Red, will you run out with me? - Oh, yeah.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- OK.- We have an abandoned house.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17It's had fires, it's been vandalised by people in the neighbourhood.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19They're going to try to tag it up to claim that it's theirs.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23A pitchfork is a typical gang symbol for the Gangster Disciples,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25and the fork is turned upside down,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28which shows a disrespect to the Gangster Disciples,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32so obviously someone of a rival gang tagged that on there
0:11:32 > 0:11:34to show disrespect to the Gangster Disciples.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36They're on a Four, you know,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38something against the Four Corner Hustlers,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40- disrespecting them. - They're another gang.- Right.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42- Four Corner Hustlers.- Yeah.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44When we say Fours, that's Four Corner Hustler.
0:11:44 > 0:11:45How big are these gangs?
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Are we talking hundreds, Red, or thousands?
0:11:48 > 0:11:49- Thousands.- Thousands.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53There are thousands of gang members in the Chicagoland area.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I mean, the number goes up, it seems, every day.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59You got as many being killed as you do, unfortunately, being raised
0:11:59 > 0:12:01in that lifestyle to take over.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03- It's no joke. - It's rough out here,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06but it's everyday life for people that live out here.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27'At 10.30 that night, another officer on patrol
0:12:27 > 0:12:30'has heard gunshots back in Ford Heights.'
0:12:31 > 0:12:34The guys just got a call, there's been multiple shots fired.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38They are suspecting that perhaps it might be gang retaliation.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44'It's not clear yet if anyone's been hurt.'
0:12:55 > 0:12:56OK, thank you.
0:12:58 > 0:12:59STACEY SIGHS
0:13:01 > 0:13:04The guys are adamant that I don't get out of the car
0:13:04 > 0:13:06until Eddy says it's OK,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09which obviously I completely understand and I completely respect.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12To be honest, I'm not in a mad rush to hop out...
0:13:14 > 0:13:15..when there's multiple gunshots
0:13:15 > 0:13:18and we don't know where they're coming from.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28KNOCK AT DOOR
0:13:29 > 0:13:32'They suspect the shots have been fired
0:13:32 > 0:13:33'from inside this house.'
0:13:36 > 0:13:39There are enough guys that are aware of what they're doing now.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41We're investigating the house where subjects
0:13:41 > 0:13:43possibly could have ran into.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45We're pretty much forming a line to walk back
0:13:45 > 0:13:47from where the shots probably occurred
0:13:47 > 0:13:49to see if we can find any type of casings
0:13:49 > 0:13:51- or evidence of the shots fired. - Right.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56OK, you guys ready?
0:13:56 > 0:13:57- We going to make this real quick...- OK.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00'They're still looking for the shooter,
0:14:00 > 0:14:04'but Officer Eddy B has a good idea who might have been involved.'
0:14:04 > 0:14:06There's a tag there on the side of the...
0:14:06 > 0:14:09There's a tag here on the side of the house.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Keep it there, OD. Yeah, the number four.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Point towards the other one.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19So now you have the GDN, which stands for Gangster Disciple Nation.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Gangster Disciples.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Right, so both gangs are trying to gain control of this building,
0:14:24 > 0:14:29as far as who's going to sell drugs to this location.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32The Four Corner Hustlers and the Gangster Disciples
0:14:32 > 0:14:35are just two of the 60 main gangs that operate in the Chicago area.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39So yeah. So yeah, I really do.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43All right, y'all take it easy, brothers.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45'They have no luck finding the shooter
0:14:45 > 0:14:47'and after speaking to people in the area,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49'apparently no-one knows anything.'
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Seven to eight people in one house all heard shots fired
0:14:54 > 0:14:56coming within their back yard the next block over
0:14:56 > 0:14:59and no-one called the police.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01That's what I mean, that it's just...
0:15:01 > 0:15:05They treat it as it's the norm for them, which is sad but true.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Nobody wants to be seen to be talking to the authorities.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14No-one wants to be seen to be gossiping about the gangs.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17You know, this gang culture is so ingrained
0:15:17 > 0:15:19in so many parts of these kind of neighbourhoods
0:15:19 > 0:15:23that people have to accept...
0:15:23 > 0:15:25that this is how they have to live their lives.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40I've seen the gangs from the safety of a cop car,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43but I wanted to find out more about how they work.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49I'm heading to the neighbourhood of Auburn Gresham,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52where two of the most established Chicago gangs -
0:15:52 > 0:15:55the Gangster Disciples and the Black P Stones - operate.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59I'm going to spend some time with a group of lads
0:15:59 > 0:16:02who are trying to intervene directly with the gang bangers...
0:16:02 > 0:16:04'putting themselves on the front line, really,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06'in a hostile environment.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09'The Peacemakers are a group of ex-gang members
0:16:09 > 0:16:11'led by brothers Terence and Curt.'
0:16:11 > 0:16:12Pizza?
0:16:12 > 0:16:14What's the plan? Where are you going today?
0:16:14 > 0:16:17We're probably just going to head out towards 79th Street,
0:16:17 > 0:16:18- see where the crowd... - 79th?
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- Yeah. That's like where... - OK. Stuck to you like glue.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28'I'm relying on Curt's past affiliation with the Black P Stones
0:16:28 > 0:16:30'to keep me safe.'
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Maybe you'll get stabbed.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37So you've seen a lot, you've witnessed a lot, you've heard a lot.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38- Yeah.- You've been around.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41- You have?- Yes.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43It sounds like you were really involved.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46How did you distance yourself from that kind of carry-on?
0:16:50 > 0:16:52But, you know, you get to seeing...
0:16:52 > 0:16:56stuff you've done in your past, replaying, you know,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58going to so many funerals, you know,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00seeing the families of different people.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05How many people have you lost that you cared about?
0:17:06 > 0:17:07I'm probably at about 65.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11- 65 friends...- Yeah.- ..dead.
0:17:13 > 0:17:14Yeah.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17SIREN WAILS
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Yeah, I think something happening down there.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25He got away.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Can you go in that area? Is that your area?
0:17:27 > 0:17:28Yeah, that's our area.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35'As we hit 79th Street and Ashland Avenue,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37'what looks like a normal junction to me
0:17:37 > 0:17:41'is a dangerous borderline between two rival factions.'
0:17:44 > 0:17:47So is it as simple as, Curt, the lads that live
0:17:47 > 0:17:50in this part of the neighbourhood,
0:17:50 > 0:17:52are affiliated with one gang
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and the lads that live on the other side of this road
0:17:55 > 0:17:57are affiliated with a rival gang?
0:17:57 > 0:17:58- Same gang. - No, same gang.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01- Same gang, but rivals. - Just don't like each other.
0:18:01 > 0:18:02- That's insane. - Yeah, that's it.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04So they're all part of the same gang,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06but there's even issues within your own gang?
0:18:06 > 0:18:08- Yeah.- Why?
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Cos it's broken down from, like, you know...
0:18:11 > 0:18:12They say it's a gang problem.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15It's really not a gang problem. It's like a block problem now.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17I live on this block, you live on that block.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20You from across Ash and I'm from this side of Ash.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22The gang thing is almost really a thing of the past,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25because there's no structure, you know what I mean?
0:18:25 > 0:18:28These are young guys just doing what they want to do.
0:18:28 > 0:18:29And they run about with a gun.
0:18:29 > 0:18:34And then give 'em a semi or a fully-automatic rifle.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36And then see someone across the street, literally 100 metres away
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- and think... - And just take aim.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40"You weren't born where I was. That means I hate you"?
0:18:40 > 0:18:43You were born, I know you, I went to school with you,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45but you live on the other side of the street.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47- So that's an issue? - That's an issue.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51I wanted to meet some young men who are still active
0:18:51 > 0:18:53on the streets in the Black P Stones.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59So Terence, what are we looking out for?
0:18:59 > 0:19:01I'm just walking around,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04like, I could walk up on some of the guys now, I believe.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07You know, just interact with them and see
0:19:07 > 0:19:08if they're all good over here,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12if anything been going on, you know, kind of feel their vibe out.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16- We hurting, man. We hurting out here. We need a job, man.- Hi.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19We need some gigs, dawg. We passing that shit out?
0:19:19 > 0:19:22We try to bash it. If we could...
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Tell me what it's like to live here.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Man, it's as hard as shit. It's going to be hard.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28It's life, man, you know?
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Life ain't easy, but shit at the same time, you know,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33it's a hustle, it's a grind, man.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35You gotta wake up here, the day's shit.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37What do you boys do on a daily basis?
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Get money.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40Yeah? How do you make your money?
0:19:40 > 0:19:42How I make money?
0:19:42 > 0:19:43You sell gear? Sell drugs?
0:19:43 > 0:19:44I don't tell you all that.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47I get up and do something, that's what I do.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Would you like a regular job, a career?
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Yeah. Yeah, I work, I work a nine-five. You got something?
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- Not right now. - No? Not right now? OK.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Do you all own your own gun?
0:19:59 > 0:20:01You can get anything you want out here.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04In Chicago, you can buy anything you want on these streets,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06no matter what it is - automatics, hand guns, it don't matter.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08As long as you got the money, you could buy...
0:20:08 > 0:20:11How much do I need for a decent gun?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- About 300, yeah. - Right.- 300?
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- Yeah.- So you gotta have some kind of protection out here. It's a must.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18- Can't be lacking out here. - No lacking at all.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20They going to get you, so you gotta have an ups.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22CURT: You gotta defend yourself at all cost, know what I'm saying?
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- That's not the solution, surely? - It's definitely not the solution
0:20:25 > 0:20:28cos everybody should be able to intermingle and get along
0:20:28 > 0:20:30with each other, but we so far from that, you know what I mean?
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Do you want that? Do you want these rivals to exist?
0:20:32 > 0:20:35I have no problem with talking to the opposite gang,
0:20:35 > 0:20:36I have no problem with talking with them.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38I'd love to walk home and ain't gotta worry
0:20:38 > 0:20:41about looking over my shoulder, you know what I'm saying?
0:20:41 > 0:20:43But, you know, this is where I'm at right now.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50The gang lifestyle is so ingrained
0:20:50 > 0:20:52it's hard to imagine how it could change.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Attention. Assemble to the right. March.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03'One place they're trying to break the cycle is at Cook County Prison.'
0:21:03 > 0:21:05- Foxtrot platoon. - Sir.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Exercise. One...
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Non-violent offenders can opt to do time in this military style regime
0:21:11 > 0:21:13as an alternative to going to prison.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- Hey, hi. - I'm looking for Director Jones.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18- I am him. - Yeah?
0:21:18 > 0:21:19- Yes.- How are you doing?
0:21:19 > 0:21:20- How you doing? - I'm Stacey.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22- Nice meeting you, Stacey. - Nice to meet you also.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- Welcome to boot camp. - Thank you.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26I'm going to keep close to you.
0:21:26 > 0:21:27STACEY LAUGHS
0:21:29 > 0:21:32They're doing some drills.
0:21:32 > 0:21:33Forward.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35INMATES CHANT
0:21:36 > 0:21:40The inmates are here for four months under a strict programme
0:21:40 > 0:21:42of discipline and physical exercise.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44One, two, three...
0:21:44 > 0:21:45- INMATES:- Go.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Tell me why they're involved in this intensive training.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Why is that necessary?
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Unfortunately, a lot of these guys didn't understand their worth,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56because everyone has told them, "You're not worth anything."
0:21:56 > 0:21:59All they know is my neighbourhood, my block, my alley.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03In four months, realistically,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06can you stop that kind of trail of thought?
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Well, we're not going to try to stop that mentality
0:22:08 > 0:22:11cos that mentality is them, that's their community.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13- Right.- That's what you grew up in.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16But what we are going to try to do is channel it differently.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19And how many of these guys will be in gangs?
0:22:19 > 0:22:20All of them.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- Left, right. - Foxtrot!
0:22:23 > 0:22:26'Whether you're a Gangster Disciple or a Black P Stone,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29'all gang members are forced to live together.'
0:22:29 > 0:22:30Thank you.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- INMATES CHANT:- Let's start getting busy. What's up?!
0:22:33 > 0:22:35If you could do one thing to make the world a better place
0:22:35 > 0:22:41for your little brother or sister, what would it be and why?
0:22:41 > 0:22:44They also have higher education and counselling classes
0:22:44 > 0:22:48to try and tackle some of the root causes of reoffending.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Sir, if I could do one thing to make the world a better place,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53I would drastically raise the price of weapons and ammunition,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56because right now they're too easy to obtain.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Sir, if I could make the world a better place
0:22:58 > 0:23:00for my brothers and sisters,
0:23:00 > 0:23:02I would take away the guns and the drugs, sir,
0:23:02 > 0:23:07cos they play a big part in our community, sir.
0:23:07 > 0:23:08OK.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Some of you would like to reduce the violence, reduce the guns,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14reduce the drugs, reduce the gang activity.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17In a couple of days, you're going to graduate.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20Maybe it could begin with you.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- INMATES SHOUT:- Foxtrot!
0:23:22 > 0:23:23Here we go.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25OK. Here we go, OK.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28It's this idea that all of them are involved in gangs and violence,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32it's just completely standard here for so many young people.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34You know, they're all saying that they're hellbent
0:23:34 > 0:23:37on being miles different when they get out,
0:23:37 > 0:23:41and they don't want to be involved in that side of things, but...
0:23:41 > 0:23:44I just think, for me, how realistic is that?
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Take a seat. Brady.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50'Foxtrot Platoon are coming to the end
0:23:50 > 0:23:52'of their four-month stint in boot camp.'
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- You are David, right? - Yeah, yes, ma'am.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58- I'm Stacey. - Nice to meet you, ma'am.
0:23:58 > 0:23:59Nice to meet you.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02'19-year-old David is just days from his release.'
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Put it away.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06How many times have you been in prison?
0:24:07 > 0:24:09- Four times. - Four?
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Ma'am, yes ma'am.
0:24:10 > 0:24:11How old are you?
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Ma'am, 19, ma'am.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15What are you in for?
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Strong arm robbery. I was trying to rip his pants off.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21You were after the pants?
0:24:21 > 0:24:23You don't even want the wallet or the phone?
0:24:23 > 0:24:26I wanted the wallet, but he was giving me a hard time
0:24:26 > 0:24:29getting the wallet, so I'm like just take the whole pants
0:24:29 > 0:24:31and everything's going to be inside the pants.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Why are you boys laughing?
0:24:33 > 0:24:35I mean, they see you whoop on somebody,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38the next man going to be like, "Oh, I ain't messing with him,"
0:24:38 > 0:24:40and they going to call you names if you don't do it.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42But if you do it and make them, like,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45"Oh, don't mess with him, he good, he good and he..."
0:24:45 > 0:24:47You know, stuff like that, it's all over like a pride thing.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Men, stand. Stand.
0:24:53 > 0:24:54Arms to the left. March.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01But you're 19, you've been in prison four times.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03- Mmm, mmm. - How's that happened?
0:25:05 > 0:25:08The first time I ever got locked up,
0:25:08 > 0:25:12it was at 14 and it was for a gun, I was carrying a weapon.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16I ended up getting caught and I went to jail for it.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18What gang are you in?
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Ma'am, Black P Stone, ma'am.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22Black P Stone?
0:25:22 > 0:25:24- Yes, ma'am. - Right.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27But right now, I'm really not following a gang, ma'am.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30I'm trying to change my life, ma'am,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34because the stuff that I've been doing, it ain't working for me.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37How are you going to... not be in a gang?
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Like, it's unrealistic, no?
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Do you see what I'm saying?
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Ma'am, I don't want to sell drugs, I don't want to carry a gun.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It's easy to say but it's hard to do.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Like, I just can't go out of here and be like,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55"Hi, my name's David, I'm trying to change, I want a job," so it's hard.
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Thank you.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02'David is a really complex character
0:26:02 > 0:26:04'and, you know, on the one hand...'
0:26:05 > 0:26:08..he says things that make perfect sense
0:26:08 > 0:26:11and I agree with him wholeheartedly.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15But then you see flickers of what he has been for such a long time,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19and you can see that he could still be willing to entertain...
0:26:21 > 0:26:22..that old lifestyle.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34'I'm going back to Austin to spend some time
0:26:34 > 0:26:38'with Ashley Hardmon's brother, Anthony Junior.'
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Tiffany, I'll see you in a bit.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45'He's 15, almost the same age David was when he first joined the gang.'
0:26:47 > 0:26:49So school was good?
0:26:49 > 0:26:50- School was great.- Yeah?
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Any gossip, any news?
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Well, I'll be playing running back and linebacker.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00- Yeah?- For my football team, yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03That's good. So you're into basketball, football.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05- Yeah, keep myself active. - The whole lot.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09You know, so I won't be active in other negative things, you know?
0:27:09 > 0:27:10This is it.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Anthony Junior is growing up in a neighbourhood
0:27:17 > 0:27:21where one of the most violent gangs, the Vice Lords, have a stronghold.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Every car that drives by I'm looking at
0:27:28 > 0:27:30and I'm seeing how they're looking at us.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Yeah. Yeah, you notice that?
0:27:35 > 0:27:38'He's introducing me to some of his friends
0:27:38 > 0:27:41'who have also avoided getting caught up with gangs.'
0:27:41 > 0:27:43I'm Stacey.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44Hello.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45What's going on?
0:27:45 > 0:27:47- Nothing much.- Nothing much?
0:27:48 > 0:27:52We're in the park now. You're not scared sat here?
0:27:52 > 0:27:54No, today was a good day.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58No gunshots, all friends together, we go and play basketball.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01But that's insane, that statement there is nuts.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03- How old are you? - 14.- 14.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05So I've got a 14-year-old telling me
0:28:05 > 0:28:08today was a really good day cos there were no gunshots.
0:28:08 > 0:28:09That's how it is round here.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11And you boys are all into basketball.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Some of you are really good. Where's the court?
0:28:13 > 0:28:15- Where do you play? - We play in our back yard,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18cos there's too much violence right there.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20- There's too much stuff going on. - We can't play there
0:28:20 > 0:28:23because there's too many shootings going on up there.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Shootings. It's just terrible.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30- Do you all know someone who's been shot?- Yeah, a lot.
0:28:33 > 0:28:39So do you all dream of becoming successful professionals?
0:28:39 > 0:28:41Yeah, we talk about how we're going to get each other
0:28:41 > 0:28:42out the hood if we make it.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Every single person sitting here in my house, in my mansion
0:28:45 > 0:28:46when I get older, you know.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48We all eating lobster...
0:28:48 > 0:28:50- LAUGHING:- All eating lobster.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54I'm dead serious. We all got our own cars, we got Bugattis, everything.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57THEY LAUGH
0:29:02 > 0:29:05When they reference their future, they always say, "If we make it.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08"If we get big.
0:29:08 > 0:29:09"If we're lucky."
0:29:11 > 0:29:12That just winds me up.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14I just think you boys should have dreams
0:29:14 > 0:29:16and you should have aspirations
0:29:16 > 0:29:19and you should take it as a given that you're going to live...
0:29:19 > 0:29:21but truly they don't.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28Later that evening, there is a major incident
0:29:28 > 0:29:30in another south side neighbourhood.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35There has been a mass shooting in Chicago's
0:29:35 > 0:29:37Back of the Yard neighbourhood tonight.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39One a three-year-old child.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46- ON RADIO:- We have a couple, what may be a three-year-old
0:29:46 > 0:29:49and then I got at least two shots.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52EMS plan one at 18.01 West 51st Street
0:29:52 > 0:29:55for multiple gunshots and there is an ambulance.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58That's plan one, 18.01, West 51st, multiple shooting victims.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13This is the early hours and it's just come to light
0:30:13 > 0:30:15that 13 people...
0:30:16 > 0:30:19..have been shot on this very basketball court.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24One of them was a three-year-old...
0:30:24 > 0:30:25shot in the face.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31This comes after having a conversation
0:30:31 > 0:30:32with little Anthony and his pals
0:30:32 > 0:30:36telling me they can't play on their local basketball court
0:30:36 > 0:30:40because there's too many shootings. It's just...
0:30:40 > 0:30:42You can't believe it unless you're here.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47If there was a shooting of this scale, you know,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50back in the UK, the place would be mobbed.
0:30:52 > 0:30:53It's normal.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00MUSIC: "Ablivion" by Unkle
0:31:11 > 0:31:14Even for Chicago, the mass shooting is big news.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21So it's just over 12 hours since all the shootings last night
0:31:21 > 0:31:24and the police department have come out and said
0:31:24 > 0:31:26they're holding a press conference.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30At about 10.15pm last night,
0:31:30 > 0:31:3213 people, including a three-year-old,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36were injured in a shooting at Cornell Square Park
0:31:36 > 0:31:39in the Back of the Yards neighbourhood.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42Based on ballistics evidence at the scene
0:31:42 > 0:31:45and information and intelligence from the scene,
0:31:45 > 0:31:47we believe the weapon used in this incident
0:31:47 > 0:31:50was an assault style rifle with a high capacity magazine.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55Based on evidence and our initial interviews with witnesses,
0:31:55 > 0:31:58this appears to be a gang-related shooting.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02Illegal guns... Illegal guns...
0:32:03 > 0:32:07Illegal guns drive violence,
0:32:07 > 0:32:10and military-type weapons, like the one we believe
0:32:10 > 0:32:15to have been used in this shooting, belong on a battlefield,
0:32:15 > 0:32:20not on a street or in a corner or in a park in the Back of the Yards.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24ON RADIO: Two males, Black, were shot.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27I'm trying to get some info. Stand by.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30We got more ambulances coming, you guys. More coming.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35'Within hours, the retaliation shootings start.'
0:32:36 > 0:32:38It's just come to light
0:32:38 > 0:32:41that another two lads have been shot this afternoon in broad daylight,
0:32:41 > 0:32:44so these boys aren't even waiting till the sun goes down now.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46They haven't even got the patience for that.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50One of them died at about half one-ish this afternoon.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55The retaliation shooting has happened in the neighbourhood of
0:32:55 > 0:32:58Auburn Gresham, on the same street I was taken to just the other day.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- MAN: No more shooting! GROUP:- No more shooting!
0:33:02 > 0:33:04- No more guns! - No more guns!
0:33:04 > 0:33:06- Stop the violence! - Stop the violence!
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- Stop the killing! - Stop the killing!
0:33:09 > 0:33:10No more guns!
0:33:10 > 0:33:12The two gangs involved seem to be the Gangster Disciples
0:33:12 > 0:33:14and the Black P Stones.
0:33:14 > 0:33:15- No more guns! - No more guns!
0:33:15 > 0:33:18Ex-Black P Stone members Curt and Terence
0:33:18 > 0:33:22have taken to the streets to try and intercept any more violence.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24- ..in our neighbourhood. - In our neighbourhood.
0:33:24 > 0:33:25- Terence.- What's going on?
0:33:25 > 0:33:27- Come and talk to me. - How you feeling? I'm fine.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30- How you doing today? - Yeah, good. An amazing turnout.
0:33:30 > 0:33:31You gotta be happy with the crowd.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Most definitely, yes, happy with the turnout.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35Terence, where are we heading now?
0:33:35 > 0:33:38We're on our way right now to an area
0:33:38 > 0:33:43where someone was recently shot, on 79th and Willets
0:33:43 > 0:33:45so we going out there cos it's real tense right now.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48A lot of people out there and, you know, we just want to go out there
0:33:48 > 0:33:52and spread the word that retaliation ain't the key, you know?
0:33:53 > 0:33:54We have a purpose.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56- WOMAN:- We have a future. - We have a future.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58- We have a purpose. - We have a purpose.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00- Keep faith. - Keep faith.
0:34:00 > 0:34:01- Keep hope. - Keep hope.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03- We're down. - We're down.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06And where are the gang bangers tonight? Where will they be?
0:34:06 > 0:34:08I mean, they know that you're out.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10I mean, they out there with us, you know?
0:34:10 > 0:34:11I mean, in the crowds,
0:34:11 > 0:34:14they're out and it's good to see that they just...
0:34:14 > 0:34:16They're listening at least.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19They're listening and that's why we just trying to spread the word.
0:34:19 > 0:34:20- Stop the killing. - Stop the killing.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22- Start the healing. - Start the healing.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24- Stop the killing. - Stop the killing.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26- Start the healing. - Start the healing.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29I've got to be honest, I was scared when I knew I was coming out,
0:34:29 > 0:34:32and I knew there was retaliation shootings expected, I thought,
0:34:32 > 0:34:34"Oh, what are we going into?"
0:34:34 > 0:34:37This is the most positive, amazing scene I've seen
0:34:37 > 0:34:39since I've been here.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Yeah, and that's what we just trying to create.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43We let people know that their lives is more valuable
0:34:43 > 0:34:46than being in jail and to be in the cemetery,
0:34:46 > 0:34:50so the vibe is positive and when you spread the good word like that,
0:34:50 > 0:34:52it's contagious like the flu. We just trying to touch everybody
0:34:52 > 0:34:54with this peace.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56If we get to one person, just one, you know,
0:34:56 > 0:34:58we did a good deed for the day.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05- Coming through. Coming through. - Thank you.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09How are we not outraged?
0:35:11 > 0:35:13How did we become desensitised to death?
0:35:15 > 0:35:17As a brother who comes from the street,
0:35:17 > 0:35:19I just want the brothers and sisters out there to know
0:35:19 > 0:35:23that we feel your pain, we've lost loved ones as well,
0:35:23 > 0:35:27but when you retaliate, when you wake up in the morning,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30that loved one doesn't wake back up with you.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32- Yes.- It's only a temporary fix.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35We need to let these young brothers and sisters know
0:35:35 > 0:35:39that they are valued and their life is precious
0:35:39 > 0:35:43and that we love you and we're here with you
0:35:43 > 0:35:46and we're not going to give up on you.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48- That's right.- All right. - - Yes, sir.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Today's just been such a crazy day.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56You know, apart from the two that I'd heard of being shot,
0:35:56 > 0:35:59just learnt that another kid was shot around the corner
0:35:59 > 0:36:01ten times near a church.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07So that gives you an inkling of what's gone on
0:36:07 > 0:36:09over the past 24 hours.
0:36:12 > 0:36:17MAN: Chicago Police are seizing about 130 illegal weapons each week.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20The police superintendent says if you can reduce weapons,
0:36:20 > 0:36:22you will reduce crime.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28We all know there are millions of guns within the US,
0:36:28 > 0:36:32but the crazy thing is that Chicago has the toughest gun laws
0:36:32 > 0:36:33within the US.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39I'm on my way to visit the Cook County Gun Suppression Unit to see
0:36:39 > 0:36:42for myself the type of weapons they are taking off the street.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49These are military style weapons.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Thompson submachine gun right there.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Little AR-15 there.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59The evidence room is stacked with everything from pistols
0:36:59 > 0:37:03and rifles to semi-automatics that have been taken from illegal owners.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11Give me an idea of how many rounds that can shoot off.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14I know you can have a 30-round magazine in there.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17This one you can have a drum, you can have a 100-round drum in there.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20- 100 rounds, that's 100 bullets. - Yeah, mm-hmm.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25Why do you feel like someone would need a gun of this calibre?
0:37:27 > 0:37:28Wow, that's actually a good question.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30Why would someone need something like that?
0:37:30 > 0:37:32You certainly don't hunt with something like that.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Maybe in a war zone or military it might be suitable,
0:37:35 > 0:37:36but certainly not in a city.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39This is my boss right here.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42- He can fill you in on probably more than I can.- Thank you.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44- Hello.- How are you doing? - How are you?- I'm good.- I'm Stacey.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46Stacey, I'm Tom. Nice to meet you.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49'Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is campaigning to close
0:37:49 > 0:37:51'the loopholes in Chicago's gun laws.'
0:37:52 > 0:37:56So how are these gang bangers getting hold of guns?
0:37:56 > 0:38:00The majority come from suburban gun shops.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02Frequently it's a gang member's girlfriend.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04She'll go in there, she'll have identification.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08She'll go in and buy two or three handguns that she'll then give
0:38:08 > 0:38:12to her boyfriend who then sells them or does whatever he does with them.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17Another large source, which has been a very troubling problem for us,
0:38:17 > 0:38:21is right across the border in Indiana, they've gun shows.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25People go to the gun show, then the real scumbags go out to their cars.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29Then they open their trunks and they sell out of their trunk to people.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31Because it's a person-to-person private sale,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34they have virtually no requirements to check anything.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40The gang bang people are not known to be hanging around gun
0:38:40 > 0:38:43ranges having practice and learning gun safety issues,
0:38:43 > 0:38:45it's not really high on their list of things to do.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47So when they get their hands on a gun,
0:38:47 > 0:38:51the chances of hitting the person they're trying to - very slim.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53So even more innocent people get hit.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57You're really left just trying to do damage control afterwards.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Even the Sheriff himself seems to be at a bit of a loss
0:39:03 > 0:39:05as to what the solution is.
0:39:05 > 0:39:06There'll always be loopholes
0:39:06 > 0:39:10and these gangbangers will always find a way of making
0:39:10 > 0:39:15sure that the guns ultimately can sometimes end up in their hands.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21Ready. Let's go.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23- INMATES SHOUT:- One. - Let's go.- Two.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26'Foxtrot Platoon are coming to the end of their four months inside
0:39:26 > 0:39:28'at Cook County Boot Camp.'
0:39:28 > 0:39:30Thank you.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33'I'm going back for their graduation ceremony
0:39:33 > 0:39:35'to mark the end of their time there.'
0:39:36 > 0:39:39- David...- What's going on? - How you feeling?
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Outstanding, ma'am.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43Did you think today would come?
0:39:45 > 0:39:47I knew it would come, ma'am.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49It was tough, though, ma'am.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52I heard that graduation was cancelled cos the weather's no good.
0:39:52 > 0:39:53It's raining.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55Ma'am, they going to have to let me go.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58- THEY LAUGH - He's like, "Let me out!"
0:39:58 > 0:40:00Do you know who's coming, who's coming to graduation?
0:40:00 > 0:40:02Ma'am, yes, ma'am - my mother, my daughter
0:40:02 > 0:40:05and that's all I know for sure, ma'am.
0:40:05 > 0:40:06Your daughter's coming?
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Platoon, attention. Prepare to fall out.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13- INMATES:- Sir, prepare to fall out, sir!
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Fall out.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18INMATES CHANT
0:40:21 > 0:40:23CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:40:32 > 0:40:35It's going to be hard. It's going to be hard, but they are equipped.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38They are equipped to handle it, if they chose to.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42And how many of these boys will stay on the straight and narrow,
0:40:42 > 0:40:45and how many of these will essentially end up back in prison
0:40:45 > 0:40:46in the next few years?
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Out of this class, out of 38 guys,
0:40:49 > 0:40:52I don't expect to see but one or two back.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54- Really?! - Oh, yeah. Yeah.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57For the first year, because they've still gotta do
0:40:57 > 0:40:58eight more months with me.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01They're sentenced to us for eight more months.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04They come in and they're dropped for drugs, they're asking,
0:41:04 > 0:41:05"What are you doing?
0:41:05 > 0:41:07"Are you in school? Do you have a job?
0:41:07 > 0:41:09"What is your plans?" It's a lot of temptations out there.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13- Sounds like they've got a lot to contend with.- Yeah...
0:41:13 > 0:41:15but we're going to help them make it.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19For four months, we here in boot camp have trained hard
0:41:19 > 0:41:23physically and mentally to better ourselves for this very day.
0:41:24 > 0:41:29We're taught things like integrity, respect and patience.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33Most importantly, we discovered many ways to go about being successful.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38Now, from this day forward, it is on us to make better choices
0:41:38 > 0:41:40and apply what we learned to our lives.
0:41:55 > 0:41:56She like being outside.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59- Look at her eyes. You see her eyes? She's like...- Look, Kylie.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01It Da-Da-Da.
0:42:02 > 0:42:03She like, "Whatever."
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Hey. Say, "Hey," Kylie.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13I'm surprised she laying on me and not crying.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15I ain't seen her in a long time.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17She knows it's her dad.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20It's very nice. Made me as a man.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23I'm still kind of shake, I'm shaking, I'm so happy. I'm happy.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31David will spend the next month on a tag under house arrest,
0:42:31 > 0:42:35followed by a further seven months of regular check-ins at boot camp.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45If you're a young man growing up here, it's incredibly difficult.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Sounds like you've got two choices -
0:42:47 > 0:42:51you either become part of the gang or you really try and avoid it.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53But I haven't spoke to that many girls.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55I'm not sure if it's similar rules for them.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59Yes. Come on.
0:42:59 > 0:43:00Hi.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03What you saying, Latasia?
0:43:03 > 0:43:06'Despite losing her sister Ashley to random gang violence
0:43:06 > 0:43:09'just a few months ago, Latasia is trying her best
0:43:09 > 0:43:11'to rebuild her life.'
0:43:11 > 0:43:16We all mourn different, so I just talk their ears off...
0:43:18 > 0:43:21..until they get tired of me talking.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25And what is it like, girls, to live in this part of Chicago?
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Like, truly, what is life like?
0:43:28 > 0:43:34Well, for us, we have to basically, like, live a double life,
0:43:34 > 0:43:37you know, like, we live in the communities
0:43:37 > 0:43:39where all the violence and stuff is happening,
0:43:39 > 0:43:42but then we still have careers and goals.
0:43:42 > 0:43:45You have to be careful who you socialise with.
0:43:45 > 0:43:50Even though there are some people that's involved in gangs,
0:43:50 > 0:43:51they may be the sweetest person,
0:43:51 > 0:43:53but you still have to, like, be careful.
0:43:55 > 0:44:00And with all this said, how do you go about picking a boyfriend?
0:44:00 > 0:44:04How do you know who's OK to go about with and who isn't?
0:44:04 > 0:44:08You have to, like, learn to cut people off, like, are you in a gang?
0:44:08 > 0:44:10Do you have a job? Do you believe in God?
0:44:10 > 0:44:13Do you have both of your parents? Where do you live?
0:44:13 > 0:44:15Latoyah's ruthless.
0:44:15 > 0:44:17You have to be.
0:44:17 > 0:44:20Have you ever fancied someone who's part of a gang?
0:44:20 > 0:44:22I have, haven't I?
0:44:22 > 0:44:23Yeah.
0:44:23 > 0:44:24Tell me.
0:44:24 > 0:44:26He was kind of, he was...
0:44:26 > 0:44:28involved in negativity.
0:44:30 > 0:44:32- We've all been there. - Yeah.
0:44:32 > 0:44:33We've all been there.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36Mm-hmm. But you had to distance that guy that you fancied?
0:44:37 > 0:44:40Yeah. It was hard. So hard...
0:44:42 > 0:44:46..but you gotta bottle all your feelings up and just say,
0:44:46 > 0:44:47"I deserve better."
0:45:02 > 0:45:04'There is still one member of the Hardmon family
0:45:04 > 0:45:07'that I haven't really been able to get to know -
0:45:07 > 0:45:09'Ashley's dad, Anthony Senior.'
0:45:10 > 0:45:12- Who's winning? - Me.
0:45:12 > 0:45:13- Obviously.- Yeah.
0:45:19 > 0:45:21How are you?
0:45:21 > 0:45:22- Tired.- Tired?
0:45:22 > 0:45:23I ain't done this in a long time.
0:45:23 > 0:45:25- It's all that exercise. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:45:25 > 0:45:26- Anthony Junior... - All that.
0:45:26 > 0:45:28..giving you a run for your money.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30Mmm. He give me a run but not for the money.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35So how are you coping generally?
0:45:37 > 0:45:39Me coping generally? I'm not really coping.
0:45:39 > 0:45:43It's like I say, though, I try to find things to keep my mind up...
0:45:44 > 0:45:48..but I don't have enough to keep me occupied from the negative.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51I mean, sometimes I think I'd be more at ease
0:45:51 > 0:45:55if me being dead, I don't have to even go through the pain.
0:45:55 > 0:45:57- Mmm.- Everything bad, right? So...
0:46:00 > 0:46:01You know?
0:46:01 > 0:46:05Just like you said, like, he did this to my baby, you know?
0:46:05 > 0:46:08And my thing, you know, my key is that he might ever touch you
0:46:08 > 0:46:10or hurt y'all, daddy coming.
0:46:11 > 0:46:16I'm coming and, you know, and, like, I keep my word.
0:46:16 > 0:46:17What was your word?
0:46:18 > 0:46:20I gave my word that if somebody ever touch y'all
0:46:20 > 0:46:22or put their hands on or hurt y'all,
0:46:22 > 0:46:25your daddy going to come and get him.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27And that's what I feel. I realise...
0:46:27 > 0:46:30I wrestled with it and then say maybe that make me feel at ease,
0:46:30 > 0:46:31you know what I'm saying?
0:46:31 > 0:46:33To deal with, to cope with the situation.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35- If I get one or two or three of them.- What do you mean, get?
0:46:35 > 0:46:37- Like, you find the killers? - Yeah.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39That's the thing about it,
0:46:39 > 0:46:42so it's like I may be at ease, you know?
0:46:42 > 0:46:43So, but...
0:46:45 > 0:46:47I'm too, I don't want to talk about it.
0:46:47 > 0:46:49OK. Thanks, Anthony.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05That's the first time your dad has ever spoken to anyone
0:47:05 > 0:47:07outside the family, right?
0:47:07 > 0:47:11Yeah. But no, throughout everything, he never...
0:47:11 > 0:47:15He kept to his self, didn't speak about his feelings to nobody.
0:47:16 > 0:47:20Do you feel like it would help your father...to be able...?
0:47:22 > 0:47:24..to be slightly more at peace
0:47:24 > 0:47:27if he knew who was responsible for killing his baby?
0:47:30 > 0:47:31Yeah.
0:47:31 > 0:47:35Catching the killers, it would bring a lot, you know,
0:47:35 > 0:47:36settlement into this house.
0:47:38 > 0:47:39Yeah.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44Realistically, the Hardmons may never find Ashley's killer.
0:47:44 > 0:47:48Last year, only 26% of murders were solved here by the police.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54It's David's first week out of boot camp.
0:47:54 > 0:47:55- All right? - Hello.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57- Am I OK to come in? - Yeah.
0:47:57 > 0:47:59Where's David?
0:47:59 > 0:48:00- He's upstairs. - He's upstairs.
0:48:02 > 0:48:06David grew up in the neighbourhood of Englewood, a gang hot spot.
0:48:06 > 0:48:08But in an effort to stay out of trouble,
0:48:08 > 0:48:12he has moved in with his stepfather, who lives in Roseland.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14It's five and a half miles away,
0:48:14 > 0:48:16but it's still an area immersed in gang violence.
0:48:20 > 0:48:24Here he is. How you feeling?
0:48:24 > 0:48:26Ma'am, outstanding, ma'am.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28So that's your tag?
0:48:28 > 0:48:30- Ma'am, yes, ma'am. - How long you got that on for?
0:48:30 > 0:48:35I was told 28 days, but it might be a little longer than 28 days.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37You gotta stay in the house the whole time?
0:48:37 > 0:48:38Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
0:48:38 > 0:48:40I'm not interested to leave the house anyway.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43Now is my time for me to be looking at schools
0:48:43 > 0:48:45and all the different trades I learned about,
0:48:45 > 0:48:48so soon as I get a chance, I'm going to get on that.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51I got my Bible. Make sure my daughter right.
0:48:51 > 0:48:53I'm going to take it from there.
0:48:53 > 0:48:56You've been inside, haven't you, four times?
0:48:56 > 0:48:57Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59After this, there's no more programme for me.
0:48:59 > 0:49:03It's prison now, so my next step will be prison, but I'm not...
0:49:03 > 0:49:04I'm not trying to go to a next step.
0:49:06 > 0:49:10What do you reckon, Dariece, seeing your brother go
0:49:10 > 0:49:12in and out of prison countless times,
0:49:12 > 0:49:15does that make you worry about David?
0:49:16 > 0:49:18Like, sometime I be, like, scared,
0:49:18 > 0:49:21I don't know what's going to happen to him.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24Like, if I hear a gunshot, I'll get scared.
0:49:25 > 0:49:29One time around the house, some dude got shot, but he was out there.
0:49:29 > 0:49:30So no more carrying a gun for you?
0:49:30 > 0:49:32Ma'am, no, ma'am.
0:49:32 > 0:49:33I can't say that I...
0:49:33 > 0:49:37I can't say that guns... Like, I will never carry a gun.
0:49:37 > 0:49:40That's something that I don't know cos something could happen right now
0:49:40 > 0:49:41and I just...
0:49:41 > 0:49:42I need me a gun.
0:49:44 > 0:49:46But not running about with it on the street?
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Not running about. Nothing like that.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56I've gotta keep reminding myself that he's 19 years old.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02Four times to be inside at that age is a lot, isn't it?
0:50:05 > 0:50:06SIREN WAILS
0:50:06 > 0:50:10There's another siren. I don't know if you can hear that.
0:50:11 > 0:50:13Here we go again.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16That's, like, a perfect example of where we are
0:50:16 > 0:50:19and what David's going to come up against.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24It's now four days since the mass shooting
0:50:24 > 0:50:26hit the headlines in Chicago,
0:50:26 > 0:50:29and there's a breakthrough in the case.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31MAN: Four people, including two suspected gunmen,
0:50:31 > 0:50:34are now charged in the mass shooting in a Chicago park
0:50:34 > 0:50:36that left 13 wounded.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39So it's just come to light that they've arrested four young men
0:50:39 > 0:50:41in the connection with the shooting on Thursday.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44All of them have been arrested for attempted murder,
0:50:44 > 0:50:46and they're all 22 or younger.
0:50:48 > 0:50:54Bryon Champ was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon
0:50:54 > 0:50:58by a felon in July of 2012
0:50:58 > 0:51:00and was sentenced to boot camp.
0:51:02 > 0:51:06The interesting thing is that the lads that they believe
0:51:06 > 0:51:08to be most instrumental
0:51:08 > 0:51:11has only been out of boot camp a year.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16David, every time I have a conversation with him,
0:51:16 > 0:51:21he's adamant that, no, he's not going down that road again
0:51:21 > 0:51:23and he's got his Kylie now and he wants to keep
0:51:23 > 0:51:25on the straight and narrow.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28You know, who knows what David will do
0:51:28 > 0:51:30after these eight months are finished?
0:51:32 > 0:51:33Who can say? Who can call that?
0:51:41 > 0:51:44Police may have found the people behind the mass shooting,
0:51:44 > 0:51:47but Ashley Hardmon was murdered three months ago
0:51:47 > 0:51:50and they are still no closer to finding her killer.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56It took them less than a week to catch four people...
0:51:59 > 0:52:00..that shot 13 people.
0:52:01 > 0:52:02Less than a week.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07But they have not one suspect, not one person of interest,
0:52:07 > 0:52:12not one anybody, it's like a ghost walked up to my daughter
0:52:12 > 0:52:14and fired into a crowd and shot her in the head.
0:52:16 > 0:52:17And Tiffany, I know...
0:52:20 > 0:52:23..it's incredibly important for you
0:52:23 > 0:52:27that you find the person responsible,
0:52:27 > 0:52:30however long it takes, whoever it is.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33- Yeah.- Yeah.- You need to know who did this to your baby.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36You know, I just don't think it's fair...
0:52:37 > 0:52:39..because I want my day in court.
0:52:40 > 0:52:44I would just like the person to know that what you took from me...
0:52:46 > 0:52:47..you know, was everything.
0:52:47 > 0:52:52What people doing today, this is, you know, stupidity.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55That's what I'm trying to get into their head.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05Can everyone please line up ahead...
0:53:05 > 0:53:06'It's my last day in Chicago
0:53:06 > 0:53:10'and the Hardmons have taken matters into their own hands.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13'They have come together as a family for the first time
0:53:13 > 0:53:15'to make a direct appeal to their community
0:53:15 > 0:53:17'to try and find Ashley's killer.'
0:53:18 > 0:53:23What are you hoping? What do you think'll happen today?
0:53:23 > 0:53:26People will get this message that we're saying.
0:53:27 > 0:53:28It's busy.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32WOMAN: I don't know what you've been told.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34- GROUP:- I don't know what you've been told.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Violence kills both young and old.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39Violence kills both young and old.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42'They are joining other grieving families
0:53:42 > 0:53:45'all trying to break the wall of silence
0:53:45 > 0:53:48'around the deaths of their loved ones.'
0:53:48 > 0:53:49HORNS SOUND
0:53:51 > 0:53:53- Ceasefire. - Ceasefire.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57Sort of goes without saying...
0:53:57 > 0:54:01that any type of march that involves so many people that have lost
0:54:01 > 0:54:04so many of their kids and so many of their brothers and sisters,
0:54:04 > 0:54:06it's really moving.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08- Don't shoot. - We want to grow up.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11There's thousands of Hardmons, thousands of baby Ashleys...
0:54:11 > 0:54:14- I don't know what you've been told. - I don't know what you've been told.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16..have been through exactly the same thing. It's mad.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18Violence kills both young and old.
0:54:25 > 0:54:29I am the mother of a homicide victim.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31My daughter was 19 years old.
0:54:31 > 0:54:37We just need to come together and break the silent code.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39But when you walk in my shoes one day,
0:54:39 > 0:54:44you're going to want someone to say, "Hey, I saw this, I saw that."
0:54:44 > 0:54:48Since my daughter's death, there's been so many.
0:54:48 > 0:54:52Many more shootings and killings and it's just ridiculous,
0:54:52 > 0:54:55and someone needs to be held accountable for it.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01Ashley had a future.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05Everybody had a future that had a bullet into that future.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08So what's the end to it? What's the stop to it?
0:55:08 > 0:55:10Anybody got a question, nobody knows.
0:55:10 > 0:55:14What makes you not think that my sister didn't have a future?
0:55:14 > 0:55:16For every one of the people that died, rest in peace.
0:55:16 > 0:55:17Amen, man.
0:55:22 > 0:55:26Your mum's proud, Dad's proud, Latasia's proud.
0:55:26 > 0:55:27I know.
0:55:27 > 0:55:32Everyone was clapping. I'm sure Ashley would have been proud.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34Mm-hmm. I know she is.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45I'm yet to meet a person in the whole of Chicago
0:55:45 > 0:55:48who doesn't know someone who's been shot or killed.
0:55:51 > 0:55:55In the UK, it's astounding if you do know someone.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00There's some places you go to and you think, you know,
0:56:00 > 0:56:02"Has it been painted in a certain way?
0:56:02 > 0:56:05"Everything's been exaggerated?"
0:56:05 > 0:56:06Not here.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10Not at all.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14If anything, it's being downplayed...
0:56:15 > 0:56:18..because we should all know the situation here.