Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Mural for the prevention of armed violence in the International District

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) – A new mural is being painted in the International District. The people behind it hope that it will spark discussions about gun violence in the community. “We really need to be one step ahead of our other pandemic, gun violence,” said Miranda Viscoli, co-president of New Mexicans to Prevention Gun Violence.

In the past month alone, Albuquerque has seen many high-profile gun violence cases. Including Lawrence Anzures, the 30-year-old was shot dead in an uptown sports bar after an alleged confrontation with another man. The next day, 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was shot dead in Washington Middle School. A week later, police said James Ramirez shot and killed three Albuquerque police officers on Juan Tabo near Lomas when police officers tried to confront him and another man about a robbery.

On Thursday there was another shooting in front of the Christian Lutheran School near Sandia High. According to police, 16-year-old Steven Robles had a conflict with a student from another school who showed up at Sandia High to confront Robles. Then they said Robles shot the car they were in – they returned fire and hit Robles in the leg. The school was closed for hours.

“This is an extremely frightening situation for children,” said Harold Medina, police chief of the APD, of the shooting on Thursday near Sandia. “I think as a community this is another topic that we really need to talk about,” said Chief Medina.

That’s the kind of conversationalist who hopes this mural will spark a spark on Zuni, near San Pedro. “We want change. We want things to change, ”said Dave Etta Wells, one of the painters who helped with the mural.

With bright colors and positive words, they say they hope the painting on a wall they built sends a message to neighbors and lawmakers. “Gun violence doesn’t have to happen,” Wells said.

The group says the mural should be ready by the end of October. They hope to see many more around town at some point.

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