Gun violence takes young lives one at a time

In the shadow of the Orlando Pulse Club massacre an equally chilling mass shooting took place outside my office on a street in the heart of downtown Oakland this week that demands as much attention.

This shooting took the life of a 17-year-old Reggina Jefferies. It took place in bright sunlight a block from City Hall as some of my office mates were heading home from work.

Three other young people were also shot, but survived.

The shootings are an example of gun violence that takes far more lives than the mass shootings committed by deranged killers like Omar Mateen. But if the past is any guide, it will get little attention other than a few news articles.  For now, there is an elaborate memorial shrine of flowers, photos and candles to Reggina in front of the parking garage where she died. It will be there for a few weeks, or months at most.

Reggina's is the 26th homicide this year in Oakland, most of those a result of gun violence. The homicides are actually occurring at a lower rate than last year.  But that means nothing to Reggina's family and friends.  It does not compensate for the loss of girl with a wondrous spirit and unlimited potential about to enter her senior year in high school.

This is not just a problem for Oakland. It is the nation's problem -- of a society in which there are far too many guns, and any of us can be victims.

Among other things, Reggina was a gifted dancer. She had just danced at the funeral for two friends who had drowned in an equally tragic incident in a lake in a rural part of California over Memorial Day weekend.

Her mother, Onika Wilson, had taken Reggina to the mid afternoon funeral at an East Oakland church, and then dropped her off at the Venue Club in downtown Oakland for a repass -- a celebration after the funeral.

"I called my daughter at 5:25 and asked her if she was okay and she said yes," Wilson told reporters. "I got a phone call that my daughter had been shot at 5:36"

The reports on the incident are still vague as to what happened.  Reggina and other celebrants left the club around 5:30 p.m.   Apparently two men on the street who had nothing to do with them got into an argument and started shooting at each other

Whatever happened is not especially relevant. Reggina was caught in the crossfire of random bullets. If there were fewer guns in circulation, she could well be alive today.

"If anyone out there knows anything out there, please let me know anything," her mother pleaded.

Reggina is one of  over 8000 homicide victims who lose their lives to gun violence in the United States each year-- a fatality rate that far exceeds that of any other industrialized country.

Tragically, Reggina's is the second homicide due to gun violence in almost the exact location. Just over a year ago, Emilio Nevarez, a 26 year old musician, was packing his bass into the trunk of his car  after a late-night performance at a club next to the Venue.  He too was what police called "an innocent victim," killed by a drive-by shooter.

"We have been in a dark world of sadness and pure confusion as to why this happened to our beloved, beautiful and talented friend," his band mates wrote on Facebook.

There is a $42,000 reward for information about Emilio's killers, and a $25,000 reward for information about Reggina’s.  The suspects have not been caught.

Left behind are wounded mothers, family members and friends leaving sad messages on temporary shrines on street corners.

Until more people come to their senses -- including lawmakers with the power to do something -- too many young lives like Reggina's will be lost.   And communities like Oakland, and countless others across the United States, will continue to bleed.