BATTLE LINES: GANGS OF TOLEDO

The Blade reveals an unseen look at Toledo's gangs

4/30/2013
BY TAYLOR DUNGJEN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
  • Gangland-4-29

  • Mitchell Moore stands at the grave site of his son Montrese Moore, who died at the age of 19 in a shooting at the corner of Cherry and Bancroft streets.
    Mitchell Moore stands at the grave site of his son Montrese Moore, who died at the age of 19 in a shooting at the corner of Cherry and Bancroft streets.

    Second of four parts

    Mitchell Moore says he should be dead.

    Selling drugs, stealing cars. Shooting at people, being shot at. Taunting rival gang members.

    Ruthless — it’s tattooed on his right arm.

    “I don’t know how I’m alive. I think it been because a lot of my closest friends is dead,” said Moore, now 44. “It’s just like I'm next.”

    Moore survived the streets. He served his time in prison. He wants his experiences to inspire his children to be better, not be a how-to guide for a life in the system.

    “I’m tired of seeing my kids in jail. Getting murdered,” he said. “ … I used to tell them all the stuff I did and went through wasn’t right. … I went to prison so they wouldn’t have to go.”

    Read more: As fathers falter, gangs fill the void


    VIDEO: From Fathers to dads


    More Day Two coverage:

    Article: Female gang member ponders life beyond the street

    Video: From Fathers to dads

    Photo galleries: The Moore Family, Willie Knighten

    Storify: Discuss the series on social media with #toledogangs

    Map: Interactive Toledo gang map

     

    About the series:

    Battle Lines: The Gangs of Toledo

    Videos: Battle Lines: The Gangs of Toledo

    Reporter: Taylor Dungjen

    Photographer: Amy E. Voigt

    Getting the gang story: How 2 Blade staffers overcame obstacles to cover Toledo's gangs