Fighting gangs in Hampton Roads

They chose the wrong family to mess with.  Those are strong words from Attorney General Bob McDonnell.  He's talking about gangs in the Commonwealth and he has a powerful plan to show kids why gang life is a deadly choice.

On Tuesday, he released a video that takes a hard look at the life of gang members, through the eyes of gang members.  It's a growing trend in the United States and Hampton Roads.

"It's everywhere, unfortunately and I think a lot of times people aren't as aware as they need to be," says Laverne Johnson of Hampton.

Creating gang awareness is why Attorney General Bob McDonnell wants police officers in Virginia to share this video with everyone in their cities.  It's an idea the Hampton Police Division backs 100 percent.

"We're extremely aggressive in our approach to gangs and the charges that come out of it," says Cpl. Allison Good.

Good says Hampton police take full advantage of the gang participation charge.

"If we're able to prove that the illegal activity that went on was a result or a part of gang activity, we do enforce the gang participation charge," says Good.

Good tells WAVY.com approximately 30 arrests this year in Hampton resulted in that felony charge.  That includes a case as recently as August where police arrested two teenagers, accused of robbing and shooting a 75 year-old man in his Custer Court home.

Violent crimes like murders and shootings are all related to gangs and all reasons to get the video out now.

"It's getting worse and I think it's getting more violent and worse in this area," says Johnson.

The video was released Tuesday, no word yet on when police departments will begin using it.