Local activists react to recent shootings

There have been three shootings in Columbia in the span of nine days. Four people, ranging from the age of 18 to 36 years old, have died as a result of the violence.

Frank Butler is a Columbia native. He said he knew Antonio Lasha Houston, 36, of Columbia who died in a shooting early Sunday morning in east Columbia, and 19-year-old E’Quan Spain, who died in a shooting on Sept. 14, was his cousin.

He explained his reaction after learning about the shooting from early Sunday morning.

“It was heartbreaking. It was sad. Another day, another violence,” he said.

Butler said he started a group called Save our Sons about a month ago after seeing senseless crime happening around Columbia. The group has male mentors and tries to combat violence.

“That’s the main reason. To try to get some of the kids off the streets, maybe back to school or to work,” he said.

Supreme Allah also runs a group called Neighborhood Cipher which aims to steer local youth in the right direction.

“They’ve got a lot of things that they sell to kids like the ARC and things like that, but it’s really difficult for certain demographics to be able to get into the ARC, get to the ARC, or any of that,” he said.

Allah said he hopes groups like this will help deter children from crime as they grow up. He said they may not stop violent crimes, but they could help deter them.

Butler said he believes access to guns is a major driving factor in the shootings.

“It’s just a lot of kids with guns and attitudes, and when you mix those two together it causes a lot of problems and a lot of destruction,” Butler said.

Glenn Cobbins, Sr. knew both victims of this weekend’s shooting.

“To see some of the people that I have raised die, just takes my heart. Makes me so angry. Makes me feel responsible. I’m out here everyday trying to make some changes and I don’t know what else to do,” he said.

The Columbia Police Department has asked for the public’s help in the shootings, asking anyone with information to come forward to the police department or report it to Crime Stoppers if they want to stay anonymous. The department has made an arrest in connection with one of the shootings, but is still investigating the other two.

Butler said if the community wants to see a change, people need to use their voices.

“There’s strength in numbers, so if we all get together, can’t beat us,” Butler said.

He said many people may be afraid to report anything they know, but he encouraged them to come forward.

“If the shoe was on the other foot, it was your family member, you would want the same respect. If I saw it you would want me to say something,” Butler said.

“It don’t take the whole, ‘should I tell, should I not,’ thing. You know what you’re supposed to do. People, they know the difference between right and wrong,” said Allah.

Cobbins said people need to come forward when they see something.

“We see somebody shooting down the street, these kids out playing, we going to be quiet? Well they just shot that child then. If they don’t say who did it, they just shot that kid,” Cobbins said.

He said when he was a child, neighbors helped look out for each other and each other’s families, but now that sense of community has dwindled.

He said there is no simple answer on how to stop gun violence.

“I know that I’m tired, personally. Sometimes I feel alone,” he said.

Butler said Save our Sons is planning a rally to speak out against gun violence. He said getting people together for things like rallies could discourage people from committing crime.

“If the bad guy sees how many of us it is, they’re not going to be too quick to commit a crime,” Butler said. “There’s too many eyes.”