Editorial: Four years later

It’s been 1,461 days since a group of teens who came to be known posthumously as the Statesville Seven died on a dark stretch of U.S. Highway 21 while running from a Troutman police officer.

They were killed four years ago today, just after midnight, when their vehicle, which had three good tires and a donut spare and was later reported stolen, careened off U.S. 21 at a high rate of speed, struck an embankment, overturned and hit a tree.

You don’t hear as much about the Statesville Seven these days. In fact, there’s not a public event this year commemorating the loss of these young lives. More recent tragedies and acts of senseless violence, instances when other misguided teens made the wrong choices and got hurt or hurt others, are now etched in the forefront of our collective memories.

Despite the calls for change brought on by the events of Dec. 29, 2003, enduring, life-altering change has been too slow to take hold in our communities. There’s still too much crime, too many dope pushers and too little hope.

But change is coming. A small band of community activists, true leaders with a vision, is working to save the current generation of children from the trappings of the streets, the lure of drugs and easy money.

This band is raising money by the hundreds of thousands of dollars to make sure teens in South Statesville and in the rest of the city have positive role models and alternatives to joyriding. When the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont finally opens its doors, there will be a real reason to have hope for the next generation.

Until that day comes, remember John Lindsey Myers, David Wayne Summers, Quentin Maurice Reed, Antonio Miller, Domnick Hurtt, Erica Stevenson and Antoinette Griffin were all our children. They are still missed by those who loved them.

We should remember their names and the unfortunate circumstances that led to their deaths. Not just on the anniversary of their deaths, but every day.