Report: Gang-related crime is on the rise in Everett

The City of Everett has noticed an “uptick” in gang-related crime with graffiti and gunfire on the rise.

RELATED: Gangs and rising Western Washington gun violence

The Everett Herald reports that the city saw 80 reports of gunfire between December 2016 and December 2017. About 10 percent of shootings happened along West Casino Road — an area known for gang activity. Police say 27 of the incidents were gang-related (36 were not). A total of 17 shootings did not have enough information to indicate that gangs were involved or not.

Other gang-related incidents, including graffiti and homicide, rose by 75 percent over the first 10 months of 2017. Authorities note that Everett is not alone and that Snohomish County communities outside the city are experiencing a similar rise in gang activity.

Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman told the Herald that economic struggles and a lack of mentorship are among many causes for the rise in gang-related offenses. The newspaper relates a range of stories from affected community members — many about teenage boys caught up in the gang life, or in the crossfire.

To the south of Everett, King County has noticed its own uptick in gang-related incidents. It has formed a special task force dedicated to addressing the issue head on. The issue had grown so troubling in 2017, then Sheriff John Urquhart said in May:

Young people with guns, that’s exactly what it is … my message to parents is if you think your kids are out there with guns – and I think most parents know – you better put a stop to it, even if you have to call us. Because if you don’t, they are going to get killed. Either we are going to kill them – which is what happened in Seattle two weeks ago – or other people out there, other kids with guns are going to kill them. That’s how serious this is. We don’t want to kill them, we don’t want your kid to get killed. Do something about it.

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