Friends of Carl Reimer say that they had been hanging out at Grandview Park on Friday night, but left an hour before the murder because a group of gang members showed up.
Friends of Carl Reimer say that they had been hanging out at Grandview Park on Friday night, but left an hour before the murder because a group of gang members showed up. Dmitri Palmer, a friend of Reimer’s said, “They came looking for gang members and found the wrong people.” The party broke up about 45 minutes later, and Reimer and a 15-year-old friend decided to walk home.
The teens and their families have been holding vigil at the park ever since the slaying. “We’re not going anywhere,” Palmer said. Meanwhile, a crowd of local residents led by Reimer’s mother, JoAnn Tennent, attended Tuesday night’s City Council meeting to protest increasing gang violence in the city. “This community, I feel, is at a crossroads,” said Annalicia Cube of the community group Take Back Santa Cruz.
Her assessment received the support of Mayor Mike Rotkin, who called the situation “out of control.” Police Chief Howard Skerry concurred, but added that his officers need help on the state and federal level to combat gang violence. Read more at Santa Cruz Sentinel.
