Gunfire Hits Seven Loudoun Homes
Man Wounded; Gang Rivalry Is Suspected
The Washington Post : Candace Rondeaux : July 20th 2006
Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072000034.html

Summary:
A 47 year old man was wounded as he slept in his home yesterday as gunmen fired as many as 30 rounds into 7 Homes in Sterling Park, Loudon County, VA. The two mile stretch where the shooting occurred, is a largely working class neighborhood. Sherriff Stephen Simpson commented,’ this is not just some random act; People should not feel that they are not safe in their homes. These people were targeted for a specific reason.' Investigators believe this could be a result of a turf war between MS-13 and its rival the 18th Street Gang. In Coventry Square where three of these "shootings" occurred residents have noted and increase in gang graffiti. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, stated that the letters "MS-13" had been spray painted on a tree in front of the man's house who was wounded in the attack. Other houses hit were on North Argonne Avenue, Margate Court, Aster Terrace, and Holborn Court.  A spokesman for the Sheriff's department confirmed that both MS-13 and the 18th Street gang were active in this neighborhood but was unable to confirm whether the affected residents were specifically targeted. Authorities do believe that two weapons were used. Investigators also found a 1997 Toyota Carolla at 2:30 A.M. near route 7 near Potomac View Rd. that had been set on fire. They believe it could have been used in the attacks. These attacks come on the heels of a Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force announced that gang crime was down 39%

Analysis:
The sheriff’s assessment that these were not random acts seems questionable. Though the facts available from a mere news article are extremely limited, the news article does give the street names of the attacks and where the suspect car was dumped. A quick study of the imagery of these areas reveals that all of the attacks occurred just off of North Sterling Boulevard. So the attacks seem to be tied to a geographic pattern rather than targeting specific individuals. Additionally, 47 year olds fall well outside the age range of a gang member. So, it would be unlikely that the man who was wounded was the intended target. One can imagine a car speeding along at night, possibly involved in some sort of gang initiation, weaving through random neighborhoods just off a main thoroughfare firing shots out the window.

One aspect of this crime that does point to targeting of specific people or locations is the fact that several of the locations were in residential areas where there was no traffic outlet. This follows an assumption that someone who is out for a dangerous joyride and not targeting specific people would avoid areas where they would have to slow down or could be boxed in by police. Another interesting aspect of this neighborhood is that all the attacks happened within a few miles of Park View High School, which suits the demographic of a street gang like MS-13. 30% of Parkview students are Hispanic, which isn't especially large for the D.C. Area. So, it is unclear whether social networks from the high school could have played a roll in this crime.