Legal expert, local business owner react to recent Shreveport shootings

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — After two separate shootings in Shreveport left one person dead and two people injured, people say the violent crime has gotten out of hand.

The deadly shooting on Lillian Street on Monday, Oct. 18 marked the 74th homicide in Shreveport in 2021. The last time the city was even close to that number was in 1993, when the city witnessed 76 homicides.

“We have issues but different than the 1990s,” said J. Antonio Florence, KSLA’s legal expert. “It’s difficult to pinpoint one specific thing. Maybe it’s COVID; maybe it’s the lack of funding in our educational systems. In the ‘90s, we could point to a specific thing, whether it was gang-related … the crack epidemic.”

KSLA asked Florence if he thought it was possible to stop the current trajectory of surpassing the homicide numbers of 1993.

“People use that logic — in the summer, there’s more crime and in the winter, there’s generally less. I disagree,

“If you look at the summertime, school is being let out. Instead of kids going into some type of summer programs or summer activities where they’re constantly being busy, they’re out on the streets,” Florence explained. “Thanksgiving is coming up; Christmas break is coming up. Similar situations are going to happen.”

Louisiana District 4 state Rep. Cedric Glover, D-Shreveport, was on the City Council in 1993.

“It was daunting,” he recalled, also citing the crack epidemic and gang violence.

Glover, who years later served a mayor, said the only way to curb the violence is by proper leadership and community efforts. “The citizens ... trusted us enough to work with us and share with us.”

Ki’ Mexico owner Rodrigo Mondragon said it may be time for him to beef up security at his business. “I might take more drastic measurements like hiring security.

“In the meantime, I’m going to start by doing more cameras; and ... the ladies, if they’re walking to their car, have someone go with them.”

Mondragon said he is saddened and concerned to hear of the recent shootings. “We leave late at night and it’s always kind of scary. ... I don’t want to be checking behind my back.”

Copyright 2021 KSLA. All rights reserved.