Corinna Ouer shot and killed in New Year's party in Lowell Massachusetts

One message after Mass. shootings: enough

Lowell residents took a stand against violence after a New Year's Eve party shooting left seven injured and one dead

January 03, 2011

By Evan Lips and Robert Mills

The Lowell Sun

LOWELL — Knotting purple ribbons to light posts, telephone poles and street signs along Grand Street, scores of residents took a stand against violence in the city's Lower Highlands neighborhood yesterday.

"From looking at all the people in this crowd, it's not Asian, it's not a white problem, it's not Hispanic and it's not black," said Police Capt. Kevin Sullivan. "This is everyone's problem and it has to be a group effort."

The walk came in response to the shooting death of Corinna Ouer, 20, who was at a New Year's party early Saturday morning when a young man who'd been turned away returned and opened fire at 104 Grand St.

Jameson Phoun, 20, and Sothy Voeun, 19, have been charged with Ouer's murder and will be arraigned today in Lowell District Court. Seven others were wounded and remain in area hospitals.

Prosecutors have declined to identify the other victims, but said all are in stable condition.

Sullivan's comments were echoed by city leaders and Cambodian residents, all of whom said the entire city must respond to the problem.

As walkers gathered in Armory Park, Mayor James Milinazzo encouraged mourners to remain strong.

"I know some good can come from this tragedy," he said.

Sullivan urged the community to step up and meet with community leaders like Taya Dixon Mullane, president of the Lower Highlands Neighborhood Group and a peace walk organizer.

"This is something nobody has the answers to," Milinazzo said. "We can question if we could have done something differently to prevent it. Get involved and help us so we can help you."

Mullane was tearful as she talked about the shootings.

"It's difficult for me to speak, and you all knew the victims," she told the crowd. "We urge you to get involved. We have strength in numbers."

The incident has sparked outrage in the Asian community. The alleged shooters are Cambodian.

Ouer's cousin, Tiesloung Oeur, said yesterday that Phoun and Vouen are "heartless beings" and "deserve to get the worst punishment possible."

Rady Mom, a former City Council candidate and survivor of the Khmer Rouge, said the incident made him fearful of the violence that he thought he escaped.

"I'm just pained," Mom said. "I don't know how else to describe it. I escaped from the horror (in Cambodia) and now I'm afraid to let my kids leave the house."

Mom called violence an issue not just for the Cambodian community, but for the entire city.

"This is a problem for the citizens of Lowell, not just the Asians," Mom said. "This is our community, and our home, and we need to speak to one another and have a connection to our neighbors."

He called for police to work even more closely with the Cambodian community, and to listen to community members. Many Cambodians still fear police since the police were an arm of Pol Pot as his regime murdered an estimated 2 million Cambodians.

Mom hopes to see the city's leadership at the forefront of efforts to bring the entire city together.

"We're not from this side of the city or that side of the city," Mom said. "We are one. This is our home, this is our city. Safety is for everyone, not just the rich and the famous."

At the Glory Buddhist Temple on Cambridge Street, Thary Vann, 40, said he wasn't aware of the shootings until a Sun reporter asked him about it.

Vann, who has lived in the Lower Highlands for about eight years, said he sees very few young people show up for services at the temple.

"They don't think they're going to die," he said. "They don't want to think about their lives. We try to teach people to be at peace with themselves but they think they'll live forever. Too often they live reckless lives."

Mom said it is important for everyone to try to reach out to youths.

"We need to speak to our young folks and show them there is a choice and a better way," he said.

Lowell High School Headmaster Ed Rozmiarek notified staff this weekend that Phoun and Voeun are believed to be Lowell High graduates, and that the victims also had ties to the school.

Rozmiarek said counselors will be available for students this morning.

Johnny Cheng, a street worker with the United Teen Equality Center who joined yesterday's peace walk, said he wishes he could convince more young Asian men that violence is not the answer.

"Every time I go to work I give everything I have to youths like them," he said. "I know because I've been through that. I've been in a gang. I've lived in the city all my life. I know how easy it is to get guns."

Cheng, who said he's served prison time, added that "getting a gun in Lowell is like buying a piece of candy."

After the walk was over, Cheng and Tiesloung Oeur stood outside the basement at 104 Grand St. where the shootings occurred. Inside, a group of Oeur's friends was busy cleaning. A couch with blood spots was dumped at the curb next to a wet mattress.

"I can't bear to go inside," said Oeur. "It hurts too much."

Nearby, Branch Street resident Edwyn Shoemaker wept as he talked about Corinna Ouer, his friend.

"It was just senseless," he said. The tragedy was perpetrated by people who "don't know how to act."

City Manager Bernie Lynch said the city has worked hard to reduce youth violence in recent years, with some success, but that this incident shows even more work needed and that everyone must be involved.

"Each time something like this happens, we think that finally people will rise up and say enough," Lynch said. "I hope that this time is that time."