A Murray neighborhood rallied behind a 14-year-old Boy Scout Monday night for its first Neighborhood Watch meeting. Samuel Lundberg got the idea after a shooting in the neighborhood earlier this month.
"It's really concerning," Lundberg said of the incident. Murray Police say 48-year-old Joby Romano was shot in the face by an off-duty Officer back on August 10th, after a resident called police following a home break-in. When the off-duty officer arrived at the community park, he spotted Romano in a community bathroom. An initial confrontation spilled out into the park where the officer requested Romano to stop. Police say Romano, instead, turned and pointed an air-soft pistol at the officer, who returned fire, striking Romano in the cheek.
"It's kind of disappointing," Lundberg added. "Disappointing that it’s going on in this area, and that we have to put up with it.”
That's when he got the idea to form the Community Watch. About two-hundred residents showed up at the park to hear Lundberg's ideas. He showed signs labeled, 'smile, this street is on camera,' that residents can purchase for their front lawns. He also introduced many in the community to NextDoor, an on-line application that connects residents within a community.
“It's an example of someone who will step forward and do something actively," said Murray Mayor Ted Eyre. "We really appreciate that kind of participation in our community.”
