Guns, Gangs & Violence: The Willie Jones Story

Gr 8 Up—Willie Jones was the valedictorian of his California high school class, a star athlete, and accepted at Cornell University. He was shot to death in 1994 in a drive-by shooting as he was leaving a post-graduation party that was chaperoned and where there was no alcohol served. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time as one gang attempted to get payback for a previous shooting by another gang. Jones's life and death are portrayed here, along with details about the gang members who killed him and the process by which they were convicted. The impact of his death on the community and particularly on the particularly the youth living in similar circumstances is also discussed. A former gang member who helped bring the perpetrators to justice describes his life. Although the sound quality is somewhat muffled, the documentary will be very useful for those looking for a realistic picture of urban gang life and its effects on family members and the community. It ends on a hopeful note: Willie's story has changed the lives of many and has served as a wakeup call for teenagers being enticed by gang life.—Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston