It is outrageous and heartbreaking that a gunman has killed one person and wounded four others in a wild shooting spree in Chattanooga.
The shootings happened Sunday night on Walker Street in East Chattanooga, near the intersection of north Orchard Knob Avenue.
All of our city’s residents should be able to feel safe in their neighborhoods — indeed, wherever they may be in the community.
But that sense of security obviously does not prevail everywhere, as evidenced by the fact that our city has now suffered its 47th reported shooting this year — and 23 homicides.
The shootings on Sunday resulted in the death of 22-year-old VanDaryl Rivers, who was shot in the head.
A neck wound was suffered by 19-year-old JerMichael Smith, who was listed in critical condition.
Daniel Smiley, 25, was shot in the wrist.
And grazing wounds were suffered by a 17-year-old — and a 2-year-old as well!
Neighbors said they heard what may have been as many as 30 shots fired, so the incident might easily have had even more tragic results.
The gunman escaped and at this writing had not been identified. It certainly is hoped that he will be brought to justice quickly.
He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, as should others who have victimized people in our community in this horrifying manner.