CORDELE, Ga. (WALB) - The person who was killed in a triple shooting in Cordele on June 19 has now been identified.

The Chief of Police, Jalon Heard, has identified the victim as 18-year-old Ladarius Blanks.

Blanks was found lying in the roadway of the 700th block of South 12th Street. Police said two other teens were also shot in the same area.

Now, residents and witnesses say something needs to be done with the youth.

“There is nothing for these kids to do. That’s why it’s so much turmoil and trouble going on here. And it doesn’t make any sense, and my heart cries for my city. I am Cordele,” said Rashida Booker-Fields, a neighbor.

“I grew up in this house, right here behind me where this happened. This could’ve been me. This could’ve been one of my siblings or one of my older cousins,” Cordele City Commission Ward 2 candidate, Davontae Hunt, added.

On Thursday night, 18-year-old Ladarius Blanks was found lying in the roadway. Police said two other teens between ages 15 and 17 were also shot in the same area.

“Everything is pointing to this not being random. I do believe that this was gang related, but we’re still investigating. So I don’t want to say that completely right now, but everything that we’re investigating it’s pointing to gang related,” Chief Heard said.

Now, residents in the community are calling for juveniles to put their guns down and for parents to get more involved in their children’s lives to help keep the kids off the streets.

“Just show our kids that they really do have more to give because it starts with us. Our actions determine our children’s reactions,” Hunt said.

“It starts at home. It goes back to our city. ‘We don’t have anything to do.’ Well, you can create things, go on a picnic, take them to the park. Do something positive, keep positiveness in these kid’s heads,” Fields added.

Chief Heard said police have noticed that more juveniles are committing crimes now that the summer months are here.

“We have noticed an increase in entering autos and petty thefts — shoplifting and things like that. And a lot of those are committed by juveniles," Heard said.

Chief Heard is encouraging parents to take advantage of the free events that are happening around the city to keep their children occupied.

“This year so far, we have had 22 events, and we have more planned. Just look at our Facebook page or the City of Cordele’s Facebook page where we promote it. There are things going on, but you do have to look for them,” he said.

For a list of activities happening around South Georgia, you can visit our What’s Going On section for a list of activities to do with the entire family.

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