Neighbors In NW OKC Concerned Following Recent Violent Crimes

A northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood was the scene of two recent violent crimes. A deadly shooting Sunday claimed the life of a young man in his 20s, and just last week a 12-year-old boy was inadvertently shot during a drive-by shooting just blocks away.

Neighbors in the area around Wilshire Blvd. and Lyrewood Ln. said crime happens regularly in their neighborhood, but the recent shootings have them living in fear that they might become an innocent victim.

10/14/2012 Related Story: Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Look For Second Victim In Northwest OKC

"I was actually at the end of the garage and I heard the shots first," recalled Taryn Bradley, who lives just across the street from the Putnam Green Apartments.That was where Oklahoma City police said a man in his 20s was gunned down Sunday afternoon around 4:30."You can the actually shooting area from my garage."

Bradley and her family were outside celebrating her 2-year-old daughter's birthday when the gunman opened fire. Bradley knew the victim.

"It's ridiculous, the violence that goes on around here. I mean there's just unnecessary stuff that goes on," said Bradley. "A bullet, a robbery, it could be anything."

Monday, neighbors said they feared one of their own children could end up dead, especially after the killing at the Putnam Green Apartments and an innocent 12-year old boy shot through the foot during a separate drive-by shooting just a couple blocks away. The 12-year-old survived luckily, but for Bradley and her family, it hit too close to home.

10/11/2012 Related Story: OKC Boy Home Recovering After Getting Hit By Stray Bullet During Drive-By

"It sends, you know, chills throughout my body. My brother was caught in a shooting out here and when I hear it, I just think about the family," Bradley said.

Her brother died in that shooting. That is the constant fear for those who live along Lyrewood Ln., that someone will end up dead for no reason.

"Worry about it every day," said Daniel Orr, a father of four. "It scares you to let your kids outside. There's a lot of kids that come out here and play. I mean little ones, I mean teenagers."

These concerned parents said their kids could be playing in harm's way, leaving them to live in fear.

"For us not to be involved in anything and something happen to my daughter or my nephew or any one of my loved ones," Bradley said.

Sunday's deadly shooting brings the number of homicides to 77 so far this year in Oklahoma City. Last year, OKC saw only 60 homicides total. In early October, it was announced that 18 additional patrol officers would be added to the OCPD force to try to combat violent crime in the city.