Indictment in Williams' case one part of gang battle

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Denver -- On the streets of northeast Denver, it is hard to celebrate the indictment of Willie Clark for the murder of former Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams because he represents yet another life wasted in a long-running, vicious cycle."The sad part about him is he had a void in his life like so many of my other kids," said the Rev. Leon Kelly, who has run Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives in north Denver for more than 20 years."He wanted to belong. And he had the opportunity to belong to other things that are positive, but because of his background and other issues, he felt that he couldn't find the same kind of love, respect, loyalty and everything else that he was able to find in this gang. And that's sad."It took 21 months, but the determination of multiple law enforcement agencies at multiple levels of government not to allow Williams' high-profile murder to go unpunished finally paid off with Wednesday's announcement.Some had questioned whether that day would ever come. Witnesses have been killed in Denver for coming forward to testify against street gangs. The intimidation of the "Stop Snitching" message had become a powerful disincentive to cooperation."I feel confident that the prosecution has their ducks in order," Kelly said."We know who was in the car, we know who allegedly pulled the trigger, but even the witnesses that they have to testify on that side of it, things have to be worked out with them."They can't really prosecute it without witnesses. Circumstantial evidence ain't going to work. It has to get to the point of talking to certain people to assure them, to make them feel comfortable that their safety will not be jeopardized any more than it's got to be."It took a while. It also took the leverage of federal and state drug charges targeting the same gang and the witness protection resources of the feds, which are considerably greater than those of the state."When the Broncos put up 100 grand as a reward, it caused a stir way back then," Kelly said. "But even if I come forth and testify on that, I can't spend the money if I'm dead. Now I think with the federal indictments and with the federal monies that have come down the pike, law enforcement has been able to put some other things in place to ensure the safety to the best of their ability of witnesses that are willing to come forward."Gang recruitment and gang prevention efforts in urban neighborhoods go on as before. "Willie, he's a few years younger than me, but he's pretty much along the lines of my generation," said Terrance Roberts of the Prodigal Son Initiative, another gang prevention program in northeast Denver."How many young men, just in east and northeast Denver alone, where I grew up, are either dead or indicted or in wheelchairs or incarcerated or just out here telling us they can't find a job? They end up not being able to do much with their lives."Willie has potential, like everybody. And to see a young guy like that indicted is the reason why I do Prodigal Son. It's a waste."Kelly, Roberts and others in this business like to believe their message is getting through. The kids who come to their after-school programs seem to get it. Broncos star Brandon Marshall's involvement with Open Door this fall tells kids that the anti-gang message not only can save your life, it can get you an autograph, too.For many of today's young black athletes, this battle is a difficult balancing act. Those raised in urban neighborhoods often retain more loyalty for their childhood friends than for authorities.But in the battle for the hearts and minds of 12-year-olds, well-known athletes are about the only people admired enough to offer a rebuttal to the kid with the wad of cash on the street corner. And it doesn't hurt to send a message that you can't get away with murder, no matter how hard you are.Darrent Williams, the exuberant young athlete with the infectious smile, had his life taken from him at 23, as it was just beginning. His death demanded justice. So did a city that wanted to know whether the authorities or the gangs were in charge of its streets.Of course, as Kelly pointed out, many other families of gang shooting victims, victims without Williams' fame or the attendant publicity, are still waiting for their justice. It will take more than one indictment to convince a new generation of would-be gangsters that crime isn't the clever way to go.But for now, Willie Clark will serve as Exhibit A in the battle for the 12-year-old soul."Its just showing people on the individual level," said Roberts. "Do you want this to be you? Do you want to waste your life like this?"(Contact Dave Krieger of the Rocky Mountain News at kriegerd(at)rockymountainnews.com.)