By THOMAS JENKINS Staff Writer A drive-by shooting in the 1500 block of Owens sent an 11-year-old boy to the emergency room early Tuesday morning, as police continue investigating a rash of shootings throughout the city.
According to Sgt. Tony Everett, public information officer with the Big Spring Police Department, the boy’s injuries were not life threatening.
“During the past several days, there have been four drive-by shootings in Big Spring,” said Everett. “The most recent was reported at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday in the 1500 block of Owens. Several shots were fired into a residence where an 11-year-old boy was sleeping on the couch. The boy was struck in the buttock by one of the rounds fired.
“The victim was transported by ambulance to the emergency room at Scenic Mountain Medical Center and was later taken to a Lubbock hospital. The injuries were not life threatening.”
Everett said the other three reports of gunfire came at 12:59 a.m. Monday in the 2300 block of Grace; 9:51 p.m. Monday in the 600 block of Holbert; and 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 2500 block of Dow.
“No injuries were reported as a result of these three shootings,” said Everett. “It’s still very early in the investigation, and it’s unclear if these shootings are related.”
Big Spring has suffered an onslaught of shootings — several resulting in injuries — in the past several months, according to police reports.
More than a half-dozen reports of deadly conduct/discharge of a firearm were reported in November in the city, leading to at least three local residents being injured.
Since the beginning of the year, the BSPD has reported approximately 19 instances of deadly conduct/discharge of a firearm, including approximately 10 during March, three in February and six in January.
Three of those reports came from the 700 block of Lorilla, while two more have originated from the 2300 block of Grace.
Others locations reporting the same charge since the beginning of 2008 include the 300 block of 10th Street, 3600 and 4200 blocks of Hamilton, 900 block of 16th Street, 800 block of Cherry, 700 block of Goliad, 4200 block of Theo, 1800 block of Winston, 2500 block of Albrook, 1200 block of Settles, and the 1000 block of Birdwell Lane.
According to Everett, the drastic increase in reports of deadly conduct/discharge of a firearm is closely related to gang activity in the city.
“It all comes down to gang and drug activity,” said Everett. “It’s hard to tell why this is happening all of a sudden, but the gangs have been here for years. It’s just been in the last few months the level of violence has escalated. There are no easy answers.”
Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at
How can this be, when the local mayor states its a safe city and pleasant for families and retirement? Or is this another effort from a small town communtiy police agency wanting state/federal funds for an unnecessary drug force? It does'nt say much for either the mayor or the police to have different views.
Posted by Lee Dawson, on March 26, 2008 at 17:17
So the police are saying this 11 year old boy is in a gang? What's being done about these drive bys. How do they know these are gang related and drug related. Do they know who is doing the shooting? If so, why aren't they being arrested for attempted murder?
Posted by Marjorie Alexander, on March 26, 2008 at 17:18
Add comments to this article: Drive by shootings escalate...
... this city because it reminds my family and I about our hometown back on the island of Kailua - Kona Hawaii. Well we love the people they are so welcoming and we tell our family about it and they say we are lucky to have picked a wonderful place to move to and I say "yes we are " my children love their school and their teachers i'm so glad that we moved here to give our children a better opportunity in life..
Michelle Maumau - Big Spring, TX
...THERE IS NOTHING TO DO IN THIS TOWN!!!!!! It's so bad now if you want to go to the movies you have to go to Midland. If you want something good to eat you have to go to Midland. Come on! Address the issues
