Protection rejected, and death follows

Teen cousins might have been targets of ultimate intimidation

On Sept. 11, about 3 a.m., Grant and Berry were targeted at the family home. According to police, they were sitting on the porch drinking with another cousin when they heard gunfire. Grant and the other cousin had been shot in the legs.

And last week, on Oct. 8, police responded for a report of a shooting and found Grant, again shot in the right leg. He had been walking east on Laurens Street when he turned onto McCulloh Street. He heard gunshots coming from behind him, turned and saw an unknown person at the end of the alley. He began to run and realized he was shot.

After each incident, Grant and Berry were taken in for questioning by detectives from the Central District and homicide division. Each time, they refused to cooperate and declined police protection. Patrol cars were assigned to sit outside their home anyway to monitor a situation that police saw as a powder keg.

"We had every reason to offer them protection. Somebody was trying to kill them. Period," said Donny Moses, a police spokesman. "However, we can't force people against their will."

On Oct. 10, officers fanned out to find Grant and Berry.

They were not acting on a specific tip but suspected that the teens' lives were in danger. They were unable to locate the men, and Moses said detectives believe they were avoiding authorities.

Two days later, they were dead.