Lynchburg, VA - Teens beating each other, children with guns, men killed over drugs -- just a few of the images in a new video about gangs in Virginia, a project by the Attorney General's Office. The office will hand out about a thousand copies early next year, as a teaching tool.

The entire video has real people in it, including the officers on the streets and the gang members themselves. We got a hold of a highlight reel and you might be shocked by what's inside.

Gang Member - "Don't fool yourselves, there's no state in the United States that our nation hasn't touched."

They're talking directly to you.

Gang Member - "Basically, we sell drugs. We sell drugs and shoot people."

About what they're doing in your neighborhood.

Special Agent Mark Campbell, Regional Gang Expert - "People in rural Virginia think that we don't have these people here but we do."          

And what's worse, these gang members are recruiting kids.

Gang Member - "We're waiting for everybody's children."

Campbell - "The age ranges anywhere from eight to 24. Shelley - "Eight?" Campbell - "Eight years old."

Gang Member - "When I was 14, I joined the crypts."

Most people we showed the video to, were shocked.

Kathleen Sullivan - "It was upsetting to watch children beating on other children."

Wayne Davis - "The drugs... that was the really sad part for me. To see how the young kids are out selling drugs to each other and just destroying themselves."

Even those who knew gangs existed...

Shanita and Monique Powell - "That's true."

...cried when they saw some of the clip.

Shanita and Monique Powell - "'Bout had me in tears. Me too, I think I bout dropped a couple over here."

It's a powerful message. One that we'd rather our kids see on the TV screen and not face to face.

Gang Member - "You're going to find our nation in every state, our nation is always there, always there..."

Special Agent Campbell and others with state police helped the attorney general's office with the project. The full video will be used only by law enforcement, when speaking to parents, teachers and other groups.

 

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