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May 8th, 2009
01:12 PM ET

Afternoon Buzz: Strife at home – and abroad

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/CRIME/05/08/chicago.children.slain/art.boy.walker.cltv.jpg caption="Martrell Stevens survived being hit by a stray bullet as he slept in a car in Chicago, but he was partially paralyzed. "]

Kay Jones
AC360° Coordinating Editorial Producer

President Obama has met with the presidents of both Afghanistan and Pakistan this week, as the growing threat from militants has made both countries top headaches for the White House. We’ll have a report from the region tonight on the latest. How will Richard Holbrooke - the White House special envoy to the region Ambassador known for his tough diplomacy under President Clinton - handle these two international hairballs?

And speaking of strife, what about Chicago? And no, I’m not talking about Drew Peterson’s arrest on charges that he killed his third wife. (And his fourth wife, you know, is still missing.) But here's what we're wondering: Why are more and more school age kids are getting killed in the Chicago area - at least 36 so far this year. And it seems no one has figured out a way to stop it.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks with an emergency room doctor about what it's like to treat so many children who've been shot. And David Mattingly will report on why there are zillions of guns in the hands of teens. How does a 15-year-old kid get a gun, anyway?

And we'll talk with a former self-described street hustler who now hits the streets and gives kids ways to get out of a gang if they're stuck in one.

And finally a different kind of story about guns in America. The man who allegedly stalked and then gunned down a Wesleyan University student this week made his first court appearance today. We will dig deeper on this case - what happened, and why was she so vulnerable to him even after seeking an order of protection to keep him away from her.

Hope to see you on 360 tonight, and Happy Friday to the 360 community!


Filed under: Kay Jones • The Buzz
soundoff (7 Responses)
  1. John

    Chicago-this is Obama country isn't it. He did such a good job solving Chicago's problems that he went to Washington to solve the country's problems. Have no fear, Obama is here.

    May 8, 2009 at 10:55 pm |
  2. Eugenia - San Francisco, Ca

    Going to California, Anderson?

    May 8, 2009 at 6:51 pm |
  3. Eugenia - San Francisco, Ca

    I just saw that Obama is going to Egypt and it's making my stomach knot

    May 8, 2009 at 3:13 pm |
  4. ALTRICIA GUILLORY

    children of color die in the streets everyday,hunted down like animals by gang members. gang members are targeting innocent children who have goals and ambitions ,a loving family and a love for life,not just other gang members. the simple truth as to why it is allowed to happen is because these children are not white,rich or famous.los angeles where i live i see dead bodies of young men and women in the street on a daily basis.there is a huge deception and cover -up that there were only 23 homicides in LA this year.we who live in the inner city know better.that is a horrible injustice to children whom have been slain,to just not count them.why are children of color allowed to die without justice?i remember the natalie holloway story how when her family found out she was missing the FBI went to aruba.when will they come to the inner cities?

    May 8, 2009 at 2:30 pm |
  5. GF, Los Angeles

    The kids in Chicago keep getting gunned down because they continue to do it to themselves. It's not middle or upper class kids going in there shooting them up – they're the ones gang banging, stealing, tagging and commiting all these crimes against each other. Responsibility falls on the parents (in this case – more likely parent) of these kids. They cannot expect the police and the system to stop the violence – it starts at home. It's that whole saying you can take them out of the inner city but you can't take the inner city out of them unless people truly want to change.

    May 8, 2009 at 2:13 pm |
  6. Michelle D . Fonthill. Ont

    Happy Friday Kay and all at 360

    So much voilence plaguing the world today .I am releieved to hear finally Drew Peterson was arrested and charged. The Chicago murders are getting worse they are not doing enough to keep these kids safe .Guns are too acessible for the gangs to get therier hands on they need .The lower class kids are being targeted beacause otf thier lack thier of money and just great no one will step up and help them .It's whose the real enemy here the people killing or the politicians and officals who do nothing about it .

    May 8, 2009 at 2:12 pm |
  7. Cindy

    Afghan and Pakistan are going to be something Obama will have to deal with through out his whole presidency. There is no easy quick fix. There is no way to truly get rid of terrorists. There will always be some hanging out somewhere and causing trouble.

    The kids in Chicago are continuing being gun downed because they are of a lower social class. If it were the upper classes kids being targeted then there would be a mighty uproar heard to the heavens! The politicians and others don't care because they don't see these people as ones that count in keeping them in office. That's the real deal.

    Looking forward to hearing more on this Morgan character. It seems to me he was in love with this girl and killed her because she didn't want anything to do with him. And a protective order is useless...it's just a piece of paper. It won't stop anyone from coming to your house or where ever and killing you. In order for it to work you have to call the cops and they have to catch the person at your house or too close to you. By the time they get there you can be dead or beat up or what ever.

    Cindy..Ga.

    May 8, 2009 at 1:26 pm |