Leaders trying to create A Pathway Out for Brunswick gang members

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Shootings and gang memberships: Numbers show both are on the rise in a local community.

That's why communities in Glynn County are stepping up to cut the violence exploding in the area around Brunswick.

Community leaders and activists are all launching a new program to address these concerns called A Pathway Out. Dozens met at First Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church on Monday night for hours to talk about the problems and what the plan is to solve it.

“We want to serve this community, better this community, and protect,” said Pastor John Fields.

The issue: Gang violence. Officials say in 2012, there were 18 gangs in Glynn County. Now, there are 29.
In 2012, there were 85 confirmed gang members in the county. Now, there are 164, with members coming from Miami and recruiting new members in local schools, officials say.

Last month, we showed you how police arrested 17-year-old Zachary Best and his mom April after a shooting on Gordon Street.

Police said they believed it was gang-related.

“One thing to look for these gang members; it’s not all gang related, some of its drug-related, some of its domestic-related, but sometimes there is a link between it all,” said Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering.

Rosa Thomas said she knows firsthand about the growing violence in Glynn County.

“My cousin was shot close range in the stomach, my nephew got shot in the shoulder,” she said.

The new plan to break up these gangs is now a group effort in Brunswick. That includes new programs to help kids who want out of the gang lifestyle, crime prevention programs and summer job programs for school kids to keep them off the streets.

There are other efforts in place to track gangs leaving prison and moving into this community. Officials say they are also working to develop economics problems to attack poverty in Brunswick.

Cox Media Group