Metro Atlanta's gang problem larger than ever before

ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta is facing a gang problem that's grown larger than ever before.

Gang members are involved in more than 50 percent of the violent crime in Atlanta, says Jim Hurley, the supervisor for the Atlanta Safe Streets Gang Task Force.

“We’re looking at an excess of 40,000 gang members,” Hurley told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne.

Through our investigation, we learned gang recruitment is at an all-time high.

“Traditionally, people didn’t want to know we had gangs. It’s not good for property values. Politicians didn’t want to admit it. Law enforcement didn’t want to admit it,” Hurley said. “But that’s a changing trend.”

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CeCe Roberts, a paralegal at the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, is the mother of a murder victim. Her son, Kenneth Roberts Jr., was shot with a friend during a robbery.

"My son didn't live. This guy's paralyzed now, and here we are," she said.

A prosecutor says two of the three murderers had ties to a gang. Roberts Jr., a city of Atlanta employee, did not have any ties to gangs.

"No neighborhood is immune," Hurley said.

WATCH Mark Winne's full report at the top of the page to hear directly from gang members.

Cox Media Group