My Future, My Choice: Gang guide for parents in Miami-Dade

Information every parent should know

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – A bullet went  through an office window at Miami Carol City High School earlier this year. Gang violence was to blame for that shooting, police said. 

Miami-Dade County Schools Police accused Stanley Ragin, 19, Raymond Hargrett, 18, and Cedric Anthony Admas, 18, of being involved in the shooting in front of the school, 3301 Miami Gardens Dr., in February.

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Detectives said the teens are all gang members. Admas, of Opa-locka, traveled to the school and got out of a car to shoot at a rival, police said.  He is facing a premeditated murder charge. 

Their juvenile records are not public, but in their short time as adults, they already have a serious criminal history. Stanley has a record of marijuana possession, driving without a driver's license, battery, strong-arm robbery and assault with a firearm. He was being held without bond. Police were still looking for Raymond. 

Gang unit detectives said proactive parents can be their most powerful allies when it comes to keeping children away from gangs.

Here is information every parent in Miami-Dade County should know:

- Gun violence is a symptom of gang activity in Miami-Dade County, but often concerns for commercial and financial interests leads to a reluctance to admit the problem, according to the Office of the Attorney General. 

- The Florida Criminal Gang Prevention Act of 1990 defines criminal gangs, gang members and gang associates and provides for enhanced penalties for the related crimes. 

- About 40 percent of gang members are under 18 years of age, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

- About 90 percent of juvenile boys in a correctional facility have a gang affiliation, according to the FBI.  

-  Drug sales are the street gangs' main motivation, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

-  Gang members have a sense of loyalty to their housing complex, street or neighborhood, according to the Florida Department of Corrections 

- Parents should look out for their children' choice of clothing, since these could show their allegiance to a criminal organization through their use of certain colors and symbols of a gang in their belts, hats, shoes, bandanas, jewelry and even shoe laces, according to the National Gang Center. 

- Gang members also often include the symbols and numbers associated with the criminal organization in the decoration for their rooms, tattoos, cars and on social media, according to the National Gang Center. 

- Parents should consider a change in attitude, grades, school attendance, drug use, weapons possession, sudden financial earnings and expensive purchases as signs that their children may be associating with gang members or have joined a gang, according to the National Gang Center. 

 

 

 


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.