Two teens are dead as a string of gun violence continues in one Niles neighborhood.
Niles residents Demi Galvin, 15, and Yasmeen Scott, 18, were shot and killed in a home at 620 N. 6th Street in Niles late Tuesday night. Three others were injured in the latest shooting in a two-block radius in the city.
The incident comes as the fourth shooting incident since Aug. 16 in the same area, as well as the third and fourth homicide. Police have said all of the violence is related, and stems from the shooting deaths of Farries Maxwell on Aug. 16 and Raquon Glenn on Sept. 8. The shooting of Maxwell happened on N. 7th Street just south of Ferry Street, while Glenn was shot and killed near North Sixth and Ferry Street. Last week, police located over 30 spent shell casings in the roadway on Ferry St. between 5th and 6th streets.
On Tuesday, investigators said a group of people approached the house at 620 N. 6th Street and began shooting into the residence, killing Galvin and Scott.
“The City of Niles has experienced tragic incidents of gun violence in recent weeks,” said Mayor Nick Shelton, in a press release. “These acts cause devastation to all involved and impact the lives of each and every Niles resident. Upon investigation, it appears that these incidents of gun violence are related to each other and, in most cases, several witnesses to the events have been identified.”
The City of Niles Police Department is working with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police on this continuing investigation.
“Officials are imploring the community to come together and share any information pertaining to these cases with law enforcement,” said Shelton, in the statement. “Sharing what was witnessed can be difficult, especially when witnesses are recounting actions that result in death. However, it is imperative that the community works together to assist in identifying those responsible and to, hopefully, put an end to these senseless acts.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident should call the Niles Detective Bureau at (269) 683-1313, or Crime Stoppers. Anyone with information can also text TIPNILESPD and your tip to: CRIMES (274637), or online at Tipsoft.com. All tips through Tipsoft remain anonymous.
