Gang Violence Suspected After Man Shot in Lakewood

It appears as if gang-related activity was part of the motive for a June 28 shooting that left one man injured and another Lakewood man behind bars.

David Anderson, 29, a Bunts Road resident, was arrested after he was suspected of shooting his neighbor in the leg after a dispute over gang membership, Cleveland.com first reported.

Anderson ran through the backyard of his home to Richland Avenue and shot the 21-year-old man, who was taken to Lakewood Hospital with unreported injuries, in the early morning of June 28.

Cleveland.com reported that Anderson was upset after the victim’s brother beat up another member of Anderson’s gang.

Lakewood Police Chief Timothy Malley told Cleveland.com that officers got a search warrant, cleared the Bunts Road home, and found the 9mm handgun used in the shooting.

“Anderson and a couple of his friends were trying to start a gang and tried to recruit their neighbor’s 18-year-old brother,” Malley said. “The younger brother did not want anything to do with it, so he beat up one of the gang members. They were upset about that.”

He further added that it was an isolated incident, downplaying any serious gang affiliations in the city.