LONGS, SC-  Horry County Police Department has investigated seven homicides in the Longs and Loris communities this year. Six of those cases involved some type of gang activity, according to a spokesperson with the department.

There are over 1500 identified gang members in Horry County, investigators said a growing number of them are juveniles. News 13 spoke with two young men who grew up in the Longs community. One described Longs as a big family.

“Everywhere you go, you know somebody,” he said.

It makes each loss, a painful one.

“Most of the time it’ll be your cousin, your friend or somebody you know.”

When 14 year-old Taizuan Dewitt died in May, he said the entire school was quiet for a week.

“I kind of just like brush it off, because this not the first time something like that happen down here,” he said.

Marvin Morris works for the Citizen’s Group, a coalition of churches on the northern end of Horry County. He said the biggest problem with youth today is they don’t have a sense of hope.

“Youth need direction, they need something positive,” said Morris.                       

The boys said it’s easy to succumb to peer pressure. One young man credited his mom’s support for keeping him on the right path.

“I talked to her when I have problems and stuff,” he stated.

Some kids aren’t as fortunate and start selling drugs to provide for themselves. Other kids get involved because they think it’s cool.

“Some people just do it to have the reputation oh I do this and I’m the baddest,” he said.

Both young men said they’d like to be role models to younger kids. The Citizen’s Group recently started the North Strand Youth Workers Network to encourage youth to stand up in the fight against violence.

“It’s bringing people together so that we can give youth a positive outlet of expression as opposed to being considered as a part of the problem,” said Morris.

The North Strand Youth Workers Network will meet on June 20 at the Community Substation of S.C. 90. In addition, Morris said they’re working on a first responders group that would be used a resource for people to report anonymous tips.

For more information email info@thecitizensgroup.org or visit facebook/thecitizensgroup.