WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Two Teens Shot in New Haven (New Haven-WTNH) _ Four teens are under arrest after a shootout in New Haven. Police nabbed the suspects within minutes and seized four handguns in the Newhallville section of the city. Our camera caught video of one of the weapons. But that's not all our crew caught on tape. News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports. One of the suspects appeared unconcerned and this is the kind of thing police encounter all the time - teens armed with guns, and armed with attitude. Community leaders trying to improve life in the city are faced with the tough job of cracking that veneer. 18 year old Gregory Mack is allegedly at the center of the shootout. Police say an ongoing dispute with him led to an attempted robbery and gunfire. This shopkeeper heard the bullets pierce the peaceful morning. Abu Bakar, Merchant: "We locked the door, so none of them could come in." Judy: "How many shots did you hear?" "3 or 4." "You must have been panicked." "Yes, we were panicked." But the shootout didn't seem to affect Mack very much. As the 18 year old is being led away in cuffs, he appears to be breezy and even brash by sticking his tongue out at the camera. Kevin Walton, "Youth Fair Chance": "The perception is that he shows no remorse and doesn't care." Kevin Walton, an outreach worker with Youth Fair Chance says that attitude is all a front. Walton: "This is not for the people who watch the news, it's for his friends... Being perceived as a tough guy, putting on a persona as a tough guy." Youth workers try to break through to "hardened" teens by treating them like humans and not solely criminals. But that shell can be tough to crack. Zakiyyah Monk, "Youth Fair Chance": "It's not easy to break through something like that. It didn't come from nowhere. It's developed. They put on a mask to survive." All four suspects are in jail on a variety of charges including carrying a pistol without a permit, assault, and conspiracy to commit robbery. 2 of them were hurt in the shootout - one shot in the leg the other in the arm. The injuries are not life threatening. They are identified and charged as follows: 18-year-old Gregory Mack is charged with two counts of assault, carrying a pistol without a permit, reckless endangerment and unlawful discharge of a firearm. 18 year old James Turner was also arrested at the scene and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. 17 year old Pernell Penn is charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment. He was treated at Yale-New Haven Hospital for a gunshot wound to the lower leg. 19 year old Nathaniel Collins is charged with conspiracy to commit assault and robbery. He had been shot in the arm. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Two Teens Shot in New Haven
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Four teens are under arrest after a shootout in New Haven. Police nabbed the suspects within minutes and seized four handguns in the Newhallville section of the city. Our camera caught video of one of the weapons. But that's not all our crew caught on tape.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.

Gun on pavement One of the suspects appeared unconcerned and this is the kind of thing police encounter all the time - teens armed with guns, and armed with attitude. Community leaders trying to improve life in the city are faced with the tough job of cracking that veneer.

18 year old Gregory Mack is allegedly at the center of the shootout. Police say an ongoing dispute with him led to an attempted robbery and gunfire. This shopkeeper heard the bullets pierce the peaceful morning.

Abu Bakar, Merchant: "We locked the door, so none of them could come in."
Judy: "How many shots did you hear?"
"3 or 4."
"You must have been panicked."
"Yes, we were panicked."

Suspect arrested But the shootout didn't seem to affect Mack very much. As the 18 year old is being led away in cuffs, he appears to be breezy and even brash by sticking his tongue out at the camera.

Kevin Walton, "Youth Fair Chance": "The perception is that he shows no remorse and doesn't care."

Kevin Walton, an outreach worker with Youth Fair Chance says that attitude is all a front.

Walton: "This is not for the people who watch the news, it's for his friends... Being perceived as a tough guy, putting on a persona as a tough guy."

Youth workers try to break through to "hardened" teens by treating them like humans and not solely criminals. But that shell can be tough to crack.

Zakiyyah Monk, "Youth Fair Chance": "It's not easy to break through something like that. It didn't come from nowhere. It's developed. They put on a mask to survive."

All four suspects are in jail on a variety of charges including carrying a pistol without a permit, assault, and conspiracy to commit robbery. 2 of them were hurt in the shootout - one shot in the leg the other in the arm. The injuries are not life threatening. They are identified and charged as follows:

18-year-old Gregory Mack is charged with two counts of assault, carrying a pistol without a permit, reckless endangerment and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
18 year old James Turner was also arrested at the scene and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.
17 year old Pernell Penn is charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment. He was treated at Yale-New Haven Hospital for a gunshot wound to the lower leg.
19 year old Nathaniel Collins is charged with conspiracy to commit assault and robbery. He had been shot in the arm.

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