REGINA – The 21-year-old man charged in the death of a teen made his first court appearance Monday, and the death is once again bringing to light the issue of gang activity and resources available to deter youth in Regina.
Darian Moise was only 16-years-old when he was found murdered outside a North Central home on September 13th.
During a memorial walk his aunt, Barbara Still, said Moise was caught up in the wrong crowd.
“This violence has to stop. He didn’t deserve this,” she explained Friday. “It would be nice for an organization to start up for people wanting to leave the gang.”
It’s a sentiment echoed from a mother in mourning.
Haven Dubois was 14-years-old when his body was pulled from Pilot Butte Creek in May. Alhough his death was deemed non-criminal his mother said he was being pressured to join a gang.
“We’re losing our kids,” chocked back Richelle Dubois during another memorial walk on Sunday. “Every other week it seems someone’s getting shot, killed, stabbed, or beat up. It’s not safe.”
Gang violence is nothing new but the resources to deter youth has changed in recent years.
Regina’s Anti-Gang Services, or RAGS, ended in 2012 due to funding cuts, leaving other non-profits in the city to pick up the slack.
The Regina Police Service is also involved in a number of prevention and intervention programs aimed at helping young people make better choices, and work closely with other community agencies to offer resources to at risk youth.
The Regina intersectoral Partnership (TRiP) has helped keep kids out of the criminal justice system since 2010 through its 11 and Under Initiative, and is now expanding to include a program for 12 to 18-year-olds.
“What we will try and do is try and lead them away from that activity and give them more positive activities to be involved with,” said Lance Dudar with TRiP
Lawrence Alvin Junior Strongquill is facing second-degree murder charges in connection to Moise’s death.
He’ll be back in court Wednesday.
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