Mothers of murdered teenagers campaign against gang lifestyle

The mothers of two Birmingham teenagers shot dead at a New Year party ten years ago are urging young people to think twice about becoming involved in gang culture.

Charlene Ellis, 18 and Letisha Shakespeare, 17, were killed when they were caught up in a drive-by shooting in Aston in the early hours of January 2, 2003.

On the ten-year anniversary of their murders, Charlene’s mother Bev Thomas has spoken of how her life changed when she found out her daughter was shot: “It was like walking out of one world into another world. I’ve never been able to get back into the previous world; I’m in a different world now,” she said.

She has been working closely with Letisha Shakespeare’s mother Marcia and officers from West Midlands Police since the death of her daughter to help families with young people who are associated with gangs.

“You’ve got to work with the family as a whole to understand the consequences of your child living that lifestyle and being in that sort of activity,” she said.

While Bev’s work has focused mainly on speaking directly to families, Marcia has been going into schools across Birmingham. She said: “I’ve supported the police and the police have supported me in trying to stamp out a lot of things that happen in our streets.

“A lot of people think ‘that won’t happen to me’. Well, I was one of those people and unfortunately it did happen to me.

“There’s no turning back the clock, it will always be on your mind that you’ve killed someone and killed someone so innocent. Think carefully on your choices, don’t let someone else control or take your life.”

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Wallis, who currently oversees the force’s gangs taskforce, said: “This was a defining moment that serves as a reason why none of us can relax about the threat posed by criminal gangs.

“What has changed over this period of time is a real coming together of other people and I pay tribute to Marcia and Bev in particular, who have been inspirational in bringing about education of people around the threat of gangs and bringing to young people a realisation that their lives are important and they’ve got choices not to join gangs.”