Jan 11, 2007 10:30 am US/Mountain
Williams' Friends Appeared To Be Gang Members
by Brian Maass
DENVER (CBS4) ―
-
-
Darrent Williams (file)
AP
Denver Broncos cornerback
Darrent Williams appeared to have associates or friends who were involved in gangs, a local community activist who works with gang members in the Denver area told CBS4.
Denver police have been working to find out if gang involvement or a gang conflict contributed to the New Year's Day shooting that killed Williams after a party at a downtown nightclub.
Williams' mother has said her son wasn't affiliated with gangs, although some pictures of him suggest something different.
In many pictures, Williams can be seen standing with other young men who appear to flash gang signs.
"I would certainly say that would be a gang sign," said Rev. Leon Kelly, a local activist who works with gang members. "That would be looked at as a symbol the gangs use."
Williams does not appear to flash gang signs in the pictures and there is no evidence that he was a gang member.
Kelly said Williams does what he calls 'flossing' in the pictures. That is showing off his jewelry, wearing a $20 bill for a belt buckle, indicating the importance of money.
"I would say clearly he had some friends or acquaintances who were involved in the gang element," Kelly said.
He said being around gang members would put Williams in a precarious position.
"If you choose to hang out, you're putting yourself in jeopardy of dealing with the consequences," Kelly said. "So whoever is there with them gets the same thing that those who are representing get."
Williams had admitted he hung around with gang members during an interview with the Denver Post and that he was affiliated with some of them as a young man.
Williams told the Post he changed his life after hearing a preacher talk about going down the wrong path.
(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments