The recent string of shootings that Jackson police say are gang related have many neighbors concerned.
The victim of one of those shootings was Demarcus Smith, who was shot in the leg during the drive-by at the Sunoco gas station on Francis Street on Tuesday. He's now charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, while the person who shot him is still at large.
Smith's mother tells us police are wrong when they say her son is involved with gangs, and she's fed up with being caught in the crossfire.
"He got shot yesterday at the gas station pumping gas and people was shooting at him," Lashayla Smith said. "Everybody is talking about it, but they're not doing anything about it."
Smith says her family has been targeted for months and her mother's house in the 300 block of Griswold has been hit in at least two drive-by's.
"They came straight to my mama's face and said they would kill her," Smith said.
Police say those shootings are related to multiple drive-by's on the 500 block of Summit Ave. The most recent happened on Monday night when four people were shot in the head.
Smith says for change to happen, parents need to get involved.
"All the parents know what they doing, what they're kids is doing around here," Smith said. "They're parents know that they all got guns around here. Stop 'em if they want to stop the violence. Go holler at all y'all kids."
Neighbors say the violence is getting worse.
"It gets scary, it's close to home now," said Mike Fiero, who's lived on Summit Ave for 23 years.
"Something needs to be done,' he added. "Just what it is, I'm not really sure. We gotta get together maybe, might help."
Until then Fiero says he's keeping his eye out for anything that looks suspicious.
"If I see something I'm going to call 'em, 911 is quick and easy," Fiero said.
It's a step police say can make a big difference, but with her family continuing to get threats, Smith is hoping parents can make the biggest difference with their children.
"I know I'm, going to holler at mine because I don't justify what these kids are doing around," Smith said.
