According to the National Police, Capotillo is the most violent neighborhood in Santo Domingo with 84 violent deaths so far this year including minors and at least nine women.
Other neighborhoods on the most violent list include Simon Bolivar, La Canita, Los Guandules and Guachupita.
In Simon Bolivar, gangs fighting over drug sales points have caused 52 homicides so far this year.
In Capotillo, residents are complaining that the main problem is the sale and consumption of drugs and several gangs fighting over control, and that every night they hear gunshots so they all have to lock themselves in their houses early.
According to the police, In the first week of this month, Aristides del Rosario (Ari), Amilcar Santana (El Viejo), and another man only known as “El Cojo”, were all shot and were all known drug dealers.
A 15-year old boy, Wilkin Araujo (Manilon) was also killed recently, in a shootout which left four men and a 14-year old boy wounded.
A gang fight resulted in the death of Pablo Rosario, “El Monstruo”, Marina Santos and a man simply known as Berto.
Evangelical pastor Leoncio Santiago has accused the police of being responsible for the dominance of crime in Capotillo and called on the chief of police to replace all the officers there as they are friends with the criminals.
He said the biggest problem is that young people see drug dealing as their future and that is preventing the development of Capotillo.
Similar concerns affect the residents of Simon Bolivar, who say that the authorities are doing nothing, just making empty promises and again many of the young people belong to gangs.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/07/23/i713031_capotillo-barrio-violento-con-tres-asesinatos-por-semana.html