Larson Housing area town hall Wednesday

MOSES LAKE - The sheriff's office is holding a town hall meeting Wednesday for the Larson Housing community to discuss the recent gang violence.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at North Elementary School located at 1200 W Craig St., in Moses Lake.

Community members have expressed concern and fear over the increased violence in the past month. Four shootings have occurred recently, all gang-related, according to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff Tom Jones met with residents Friday following a drive-by shooting Thursday night.

"People who live here have their hard-earned property damaged, vandalized or stolen," Jones said Friday. "Some people here who want to move away can't sell their homes due to the reputation of this community."

Jones said the town hall meeting is being held to strengthen the sheriff's office partnership with the community and develop effective strategies and a long-term sustainable plan to "stomp out gangs."

"The focus of our long-term plan will be to sustain the safety and security of this community," Jones said. "We are just at the ground floor of this plan, and I expect our plan to grow and become more robust as we move forward."

More than 100 area residents attended a town hall meeting last year, many voicing concern about the high crime rates.