Another shooting incident last night in Chattanooga.
Three people were hit as they left a convenience store on Rossville Boulevard at about 6:30 pm.
Was it more gang violence?
Twenty one days into 2013 and already 13 people have been shot---one of them fatal. In Chattanooga.
Police have not indicated if the Sunday night violence was gang-related, but it follows a familiar pattern.
Three people were in the parking lot of the convenience store at 37th and Rossville Boulevard when they were hit by shots fired from a car.
None of the victims was seriously hurt according to police.
SGT. RICK MINCY, CPD "We think its one shooter, but we're not for sure right now."
The shooting victims were 21 year old Christopher Penn, 24 year old Dayontae Menifee, and 19 year old Amy West.
Penn and Menifee have police records.
Police got a description of the car that sped away---a white Ford Crown Victoria which was spotted by police later in the 3700 block of Shamrock avenue.
The car was taken away for testing.
The frequency of such events in Chattanooga is a concern to officers and civilians alike.
SGT. RICK MINCY, CHATTANOOGA POLICE DEPARTMENT "Its frustrating and of course Chattanooga is not the only city experiencing this..its all around the United States. We're lucky some of ours are just minor injury wise...but it is frustrating for the police."
Nicole Reeves was leaving the New Covenant church with children when the shootings occurred. She rushed the children back inside.
NICOLE REEVES, AT NEARBY CHURCH "Just how crazy this world is getting. You know. Here we are one day Praising the Lord and then having to race back inside the building."
What causes this type of violence?
BOYD PATTERSON, HEAD OF GANG PREVENTION TASK FORCE "Unfortunately, the great majority of gang violence is retaliatory. One gang's striking back against another gang over some perceived slight ..really small in the grand scheme of things."
Boyd Patterson head the city-wide task force that is searching for ways to cut-down on the violence that left more than 90 people shot in the city last year.
Police are asking you to call them if you have information about the latest shooting.
Boyd Patterson says the Gang Intervention Task force, which started last year at this time..is now in phase 2.
It's drawing up a master plan based on information already collected.
Patterson says it will involve the entire community in one way or another.
