Parkview Shooter Caught, Residents Seek Help

Residents of the Parkview Apartment Complex can breathe a sense of relief now that one of the three alleged gunmen involved in a double murder has been apprehended. Acting on a tip, Monroe Police Department officers were able to take into custody 22 year old Daniel Towns for his alleged involvement in the Tuesday September 1 shootings at the apartment complex. Towns is currently incarcerated in the Ouachita Correctional Center charged with two counts of Second-Degree Murder and one count of Attempted Second-Degree Murder. Towns is alleged to have given a gun to either Delarrious or Mario Jones, as Delarrious Jones is alleged to have shot one individual and then chased another person, wounding that individual also. Both individuals died on the scene. Towns along with both Delarrious and Mario Jones fled the scene with Towns being apprehended a few days later and as of press time both Jones individuals remain uncaptured. Nonetheless Parkview has seen a violent year as several high-profile killings has reverberated throughout the community. Many say that it is unsafe, especially for the children. One can only hope that conditions will improve and soon.

One person that is doing what he can for Parkview is Damian Coleman, an advocate for change in Parkview. Coleman has appealed to the Monroe City Council for assistance on several occasions not only in Parkview, but in other areas of the city. At a recent city council meeting during the audience participation period (after regular meeting concludes), Coleman spoke of how the area has gotten worse due to violence. Coleman has over time, presented proposals before the city council that he believes can improve the quality of life in Parkview, as he said that the city does not "engage" the people in Parkview enough. He said that not enough resources are provided in Parkview as well as in other areas of the city. An example that Coleman gave was, no activities for the children (Parkview), but said that an "emergency relief center" would be a start. Council Chairwoman(dist.3) Juanita Woods said that she has seen some of Coleman's proposals, also said that the responsibility of Parkview rests with Standard Enterprise, the company that owns Parkview. Newly elected Councilwoman(dist.5) Kema Dawson said that "things are not happening" in Parkview because management allegedly "is not allowing" things to happen. Parkview which is in Dawson's district, said that she "went to each door" and residents told her that they "can't get through" to management, that there is "nothing" management allegedly will do. But Dawson said that residents have been able to get some assistance with their electric/gas service and some mental health assistance. Councilman(dist.1) Doug Harvey said that assistance could come from other agencies. Dawson said that she "is personally" involved, because Parkview is in her district and she wants to see meaningful change, as Coleman looks for things to get better for Parkview in the future.