The streets of the Wedgewood Apartments community have been a battleground for years, with the BL-800 gang casting a long shadow over one Columbus neighborhood. Yet, the tide may be turning after a judge sentenced two former gang members to stiff prison terms, as reported by WBNS. The members were convicted for their part in a shooting that left one man dead, and in handing down the sentences, hope has been injected into a community eager to reclaim its peace.

It was last September that the Columbus police apprehended Bilal, a month following the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Miguel Arriola, who was found, ridden with bullets, in his car. According to ABC6, Ahmed, another involved party, did not find himself in cuffs until December, as the authorities pieced together the jigsaw of violent crimes these men had left behind.

The community, which has been touched directly by gang menace, has seen tireless efforts by residents and city officials to call for stronger crime reduction strategies and a firmer hand with youth intervention. The gang, known as Bantu Life or BL-800, has had a grip on the neighborhood, initiating violence and instilling fear. With the two recent sentences, a message has been staple-gunned to the forefront, Franklin County has zero tolerance for such gang brutality.

Amidst cries for justice, the neighborhood has looked to turn over a new leaf. In echoing these sentiments, local leaders and the affected public view the convictions as a pivotal moment for community healing and resurgence. "The message is clear: violent gang activity will not be tolerated in Franklin County," according to ABC6 News, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien proclaimed, encapsulating the collective relief and newfound hope for Wedgewood's future, a sentiment echoed by local advocate groups and authorities.