Gun violence ‘getting worse,’ residents say

(102817 Dorchester, Ma) Brandi Walker, mother of seven, speaks about her feelings on the recent shootings and what the city should be doing to stop them while with her daughter Daniah at her son's pop warner practice on Saturday October 28, 2017. Herald Photo by Joseph Prezioso
Brandi Walker, mother of seven, speaks about her feelings on the recent shootings and what the city should be doing to stop them on Saturday October 28, 2017. Herald Photo by Joseph Prezioso
Dorchester Eagles Pop Warner Team President Terry Cousin speaks with players on his team at a practice on Saturday October 28, 2017. Cousin believes parenting plays a huge roll in kids who do well and others that end up involved in crime on Saturday October 28, 2017. Herald Photo by Joseph Prezioso
Natalie Naper stands on her front porch with her dog Onyx and speaks about her feelings about the shootings happening in Dorchester and about how her back home windows were shot out when people were complaining about her dog barking on Saturday October 28, 2017. Herald Photo by Joseph Prezioso
(102817 Dorchester, Ma) Dorchester Eagles Pop Warner Team President Terry Cousin speaks with players on his team at a practice on Saturday October 28, 2017. Cousin believes parenting plays a huge roll in kids who do well and others that end up involved in crime on Saturday October 28, 2017. Herald Photo by Joseph Prezioso
(102817 Dorchester, Ma) High school students Abdul Salam, 17, Jordan Pruitt, 17 and Jayvonie Hall, 16, discuss their feelings on the recent shootings in Dorchester on Saturday October 28, 2017. Herald Photo by Joseph Prezioso
High school students Abdul Salam, 17, Jordan Pruitt, 17 and Jayvonie Hall, 16, discuss their feelings on the recent shootings in Dorchester on Saturday October 28, 2017. Herald Photo by Joseph Prezioso

By Kathleen McKiernan | kathleen.mckiernan@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: October 29, 2017 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: November 17, 2018 at 12:00 a.m.

“It’s pretty concerning. Raising kids around here, the disregard for people’s lives. … It feels like it’s getting worse. It’s disgusting.” — Brandi Walker, 39, Dorchester

“I’m tired of my community blaming city officials. You can’t blame city officials. It starts at home. We do too much finger-pointing and don’t take responsibility.” — Terry Cousin, 48, team president of Dorchester Pop Warner Eagles

“It’s uncomfortable to know they still have guns on the street. It’s not that I don’t feel safe for myself — it’s my teenage sons. They’re trying to make the neighborhood better. It’ll take more activities and more things for kids to do, more jobs, more programs.” — Natalie Naper, 48, Dorchester

“It’s getting worse. It’s not as bad as other cities, but it’s not what we want.” — Abdul Salam, 17, Dorchester