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Burien grapples with stopping gang violence

Two teenagers died in what investigators call a gang-related shooting last month.
Memorial for two teens killed in Burien. Detectives think the murders were gang related.

People in Burien still searching for answers to the problem of gang violence and how to engage youth and prevent future violence.

Dozens of people turned out for a community meeting on Monday night in the wake of the shooting deaths of two teenagers.

Eveona Cortez, 19, and a 13-year-old girl died in the 13700 block of Ambaum Boulevard SW on Wednesday, March 28. No arrests have been made yet but detectives say it was gang-related.

The question residents raised on Monday, how is someone as young as 13 can be pulled into this cycle of gang activity.

The answer is not easy.

"I can tell you this right now is that I understand that our community is tired of being scared and tired of not speaking up and you can see it here today with the number of people that turned out here today," Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta said,

People who live and work here are worried.

Dee Thoman works steps away from where the shooting happened where a memorial marks the spot, and serves as a daily reminder for her.

"I just couldn't believe it when I heard it, that they were so young. That is just not right," said Thoman last week.

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