PALM BAY, Fla. – In its first meeting since police said two teenagers were found shot and killed on Christmas, the Palm Bay City Council Thursday proposed a workshop to help find solutions to violence and other illegal activities in the undeveloped neighborhood called the Compound.
An obituary reads the funeral for 14-year-old Jeremiah Brown will be Saturday.
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Police said the other victim was 16.
Former city council candidate Thomas Gaume remembered other incidents of violence in recent years and also off-roading accidents taking lives like four years ago when police said 13-year-old Raquan Filsaime died in a dirt bike collision.
“And that’s a long history from finding people beat up for dead, people taking drug overdoses in their car and being found out here,” Gaume said.
On 2,700 acres, the streets of the Compound were built but houses never were.
“That’s why it’s going to take the private owners being involved because you need to look at each one of them, and say what are you willing to do to keep people from dying on your property,” Gaume said.
Gaume suggested building a gate as a single-entry point and restricting access to just property owners.
He also thinks the city could condemn the roads because of poor conditions.
As city council members begin making plans toward getting results, police Monday told News 6 detectives are still following up on leads and conducting interviews.
No arrests have been made.
Council members discussed inviting property owners to its workshop, and later possibly creating a committee that would focus on making the Compound safer.
“I do see the tragedies that have occurred out there, but I also see the positive things that have happened out there,” Councilman Peter Filiberto said. " I’ve seen the family picnics. I’ve seen the family photos.”
Councilman Kenny Johnson said he expects the workshop to happen in the next month.
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