In June 2007, seventeen-year-old Ross Capicchioni trusted one of his friends despite misgivings he had about going into a particular neighborhood in Detroit. It’s a section of Detroit forgotten and neglected. His friend stopped in front of several houses. Both boys got out of the vehicle when Ross heard a bang and noticed his arm bleeding and dangling on the bone. Naturally, he was in shcok and didn’t know what had happened. Two more loud pops, followed by a bullet in his chest and one across his scalp, and the reality set in. His friend had led him into a gang ambush and left him for dead.
Amazingly, Ross survived the ordeal. He had to relearn how to do many activities we take for granted. Later he learned that it was a gang initiation that involved shooting someone, and he had been the chosen victim. Ross is now in his twenties and tells his story to give people hope and to make people aware of the reality of violence in the forgotten neighborhoods. It’s also a reminder that every victim of violence has a face and a name. His story has gone viral through LiveLeak.com, a video site that wants to redefine media.