By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer Original report from Washington
21 May 2009
The shooting death of a Cambodian-American girl last week in Lowell, Mass., has caused one community to demand prevention of violence in the future.
Choeun Tavaryna, a 17-year-old high school student, was shot while driving in a car, in what police say was an attempt to kill the driver in gang-related violence.
The United Teen Equality Centre on Tuesday prepared a rally to commemorate the victim’s death at Lowell City Hall.
“Young kids really put it together, to really speak out against the violence that happened last week,” Cregg Croteau, executive director of UTEC told VOA by phone on Tuesday. “We got a young girl, Tavaryna, 17 years old, shot and killed and she was left at the side of the road. So young people will stand up and speak out, that this is considered something that is not OK to have in the community.”
Choeun Tavaryna, a Lawrence high school student, was shot to death by a suspected gang member while she was riding in the front seat of a car with two friends, a male and a female, around the night of May 12.
The attorney general of Middlesex district, Gerry Leone, was quoted by the local media saying that her male friend, who drove the car, had a gang conflict with the alleged perpetrator.
The shot was aimed at the driver but hit the girl when the other vehicle occupants ducked, according to media reports. The police found Choeun Tavaryna’s body at 10: 14 pm, after her friends reportedly pushed her out of the car.
Three days after the shooting, Lowell police arrested a suspect, Ron Srey, 25, at a friend’s home.
Lowell has seen armed violence on the streets in the past, due to gangs and the drug trade.
Cregg said his center and the police are trying to establish programs to prevent young people from being swept up in street violence among gangs.
Vong Ross, president of the Cambodian Mutual Assistant Association, in Lowell, said he had seen similar shootings five or six times already.
In order to prevent violence, his group plans to ask for financial support from the government to create programs to draw youths away from gangs.
“Sometimes we can use knowledge together,” he said. “OK, you know you want to create a computer program, OK, now we can help each other create a Web site to teach other young people.”
Skills of one can be transferred to another, but there has to be incentive, he said.
“If they do their work, we should give them some pay for their work, $7 to $8, then the kids will come to work and stay away from the gangs,” he said.
His association is also preparing a commemoration ceremony for Choeun Tavaryna on June 6.
Choeun Tavaryna, a 17-year-old high school student, was shot while driving in a car, in what police say was an attempt to kill the driver in gang-related violence.
The United Teen Equality Centre on Tuesday prepared a rally to commemorate the victim’s death at Lowell City Hall.
“Young kids really put it together, to really speak out against the violence that happened last week,” Cregg Croteau, executive director of UTEC told VOA by phone on Tuesday. “We got a young girl, Tavaryna, 17 years old, shot and killed and she was left at the side of the road. So young people will stand up and speak out, that this is considered something that is not OK to have in the community.”
Choeun Tavaryna, a Lawrence high school student, was shot to death by a suspected gang member while she was riding in the front seat of a car with two friends, a male and a female, around the night of May 12.
The attorney general of Middlesex district, Gerry Leone, was quoted by the local media saying that her male friend, who drove the car, had a gang conflict with the alleged perpetrator.
The shot was aimed at the driver but hit the girl when the other vehicle occupants ducked, according to media reports. The police found Choeun Tavaryna’s body at 10: 14 pm, after her friends reportedly pushed her out of the car.
Three days after the shooting, Lowell police arrested a suspect, Ron Srey, 25, at a friend’s home.
Lowell has seen armed violence on the streets in the past, due to gangs and the drug trade.
Cregg said his center and the police are trying to establish programs to prevent young people from being swept up in street violence among gangs.
Vong Ross, president of the Cambodian Mutual Assistant Association, in Lowell, said he had seen similar shootings five or six times already.
In order to prevent violence, his group plans to ask for financial support from the government to create programs to draw youths away from gangs.
“Sometimes we can use knowledge together,” he said. “OK, you know you want to create a computer program, OK, now we can help each other create a Web site to teach other young people.”
Skills of one can be transferred to another, but there has to be incentive, he said.
“If they do their work, we should give them some pay for their work, $7 to $8, then the kids will come to work and stay away from the gangs,” he said.
His association is also preparing a commemoration ceremony for Choeun Tavaryna on June 6.
18 comments:
Go go young people stand up and speak out.
How come no-one has mentioned Hun Sen in the comment section yet?
After all, this must be Hun Sen's fault.
Or this might be a ploy of the Vietnamese, too.
yes it's ah sen and his vn friends that caused khmers to run and live overseas and thus this....hhhahhahhaaaa
$7 or $8 dollar pays won't cut dude...these gangs used to make Thousands of $$ in selling drugs and arms robbery, you think they can settle for less???? LOL I don't think so... your programs won't change anything.
9:41am fagget this program is aimed towards youth BEFOR they get themselves into trouble. I smell a bunch of Vietnamese and CPP filth in here already, what a shame.
Hello, all
I don't know at all about this. Would anyone, who knows this sad news, tells me alitle about this shot to death in Hun Xen and Vietnam-related violence. Who is she, the one who shot to deaht? Personal or Hun Sen-related problem? Why? Thanks very much for reply.
A student in Battambang.
This is not atypical in a ghetto neighborhood where all Puok Ah Jruok Jruok Cambodian-American'ts infesting.
PPU
shut up Ah ppu Ah phnong hanoi
3:45 PM
It's too bad to hear that you can't handle the truth.
PPU
Western-influence violence related death is an epitome of a colossal failure of uncivil society.
PPU
Why her friend push her out of the car? they should rush and take her to the hospital....what a fucken friend!
I was Hor 5 Hong paid those gangster to shoot the girl and bring to media attention. Because he came here the same time when the poor girl get shot while they open the freaking Cambodian Conselor in Lowell. Get it moron?
I'm sure it was Hun Sen and CPP.
You guys like to blame everything on Hun Sen. The shooting was probably by those TRG whatsoever shit gang.
Should stay in school and listening to her parents, this is why you end up like this...
5:47 AM,
Sure! ah kwack Hun Sen caused this incidence....what a fool!
5:47 AM You are so stupid. This happen in the US of A dump ass. Blame you stupid ass un-educated fool father. You dont know shit about Hun Sen.
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