Fort Worth Pastor Offers Church As Meeting Place For Gang Members

(Fort Worth, TX) — A Fort Worth minister is inviting members of rival gangs to his church as a safe place to talk things over.

Rev. Kyev Tatum is the pastor at New Mount Rose Baptist Church, and he’s trying to defuse a recent spike in gang violence at the Butler Place public housing project near downtown. Over the weekend, a 16-year-old boy was fatally shot at the housing complex.

Fort Worth Police Assistant Chief Charlie Ramirez says the department is stepping up patrols and taking other measures to counter the recent surge in gang violence.