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A shooting at a high school graduation may be shocking to the public, but in the gang world gun-wielding violence at high-profile events is not uncommon, says a community activist and former gang member.

"The more brazen the action of a gang member, it creates the mentality in Latino gangs that he's a vato loco or crazy guy. To African-American gangs, it may be that he's hard-core or a straight-up gangster," said Tommy Vallejos, a former gang member turned pastor.
"To get the label of being hard and not afraid of law enforcement, not afraid to bust a cap, that's a legend that's in the gang allure that somebody's a crazy guy."
Police think that's what happened Monday when a gunman fatally shot Andreus Taylor, 21, after the Maplewood High School graduation ceremony at Tennessee State University's Gentry Complex. Investigators say Taylor was not a member of a gang but he socialized with the Bloods street gang — and that may be what got him killed. He was also wearing a red shirt, the color worn by the Bloods.
Taylor was shot in the face and upper body as he left the auditorium's lobby. The shooting sparked pandemonium as the crowd fled from the sound of gunfire, and the gunman disappeared in the commotion. He was wearing a purple shirt and black pants, but those are not colors associated with any gang. Still, police think there is a gang connection.
"We do know when a lot of gang members do get together it's usually not a planned event,'' said Capt. Todd Henry of the Metro gang unit. "They may know each other's gonna be there, but it's just a spur-of-the- moment action that takes place. It could be because one gang thinks another gang is disrespecting them. It could be the throwing of hand signs or the wearing of colors. Most times, these gang members aren't so sophisticated that they make plans to do this. Unfortunately, they come prepared for trouble, which is apparently what happened" Monday.
Schools beef up security
Metro's gang unit investigators hit the streets in search of the shooter or a tipster who would provide a lead. With more graduations scheduled for Tuesday, schools stepped up security by requiring metal detectors and searching purses and bags.
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"Obviously, we want these events to be the celebrations they're supposed to be,'' said Metro schools spokeswoman Olivia Brown.
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Police increased patrols. But nerves remained frayed.
Mary Robinson attended her nephew's high school graduation with mixed emotions — excitement and fear. Her nephew, a senior at Pearl-Cohn, was graduating Tuesday in the same TSU building where Monday's fatal shooting occurred.
"I was almost scared to come over here, but someone said come on out because there was going to be more security out here. I wouldn't have come out," Robinson said.
Twelve officers, including TSU security and Metro police, weren't enough to deter the killer on Monday. Neither were the security cameras in the Gentry Complex lobby. Investigators are reviewing the tape.
Henry says Metro has been deploying gang unit officers to graduations since 2005 because of the possibility that gang activity might occur, particularly in the parking lot area — a common place for violence to break out after largely attended events, he said.
For that reason officers also were present at Hume-Fogg, Hillwood and Overton graduations.
Pearl-Cohn had the heaviest presence at TSU with more than 20 officers stationed on the street, along the driveway, in the parking lot, at the front entrance of the building and scattered throughout the inside of the center. A police helicopter began hovering around campus nearly an hour before the program started at 6 p.m.
A line of people waiting to go through the metal detectors snaked around the building.
"It's a nuisance, but you've got to do it anyway. Better to be safe than sorry," said Linda Batey, whose granddaughter was graduating.
"We are all well pleased with the way things have been going. Everyone has been understanding," said Ralph Thompson, assistant superintendent.
Regardless of the crime, Traci Fletcher said, she wouldn't let any violence stop her from living her life.
"I risk my life walking out of my front door. It's nothing to me. I'm not gonna live my life like that. I refuse. I do what I have to do for my family. They want to take these monumental occasions away from us, and I won't let them do it," said Fletcher, who was headed to see her cousin graduate from Pearl-Cohn.
Other recent incidents
Metro's graduations are no stranger to controversy. Last year, an innocent bystander was shot in the parking lot of the Whites Creek High School graduation ceremony at TSU, Thompson said. The year before, a fight broke out in the parking lot of Glencliff High School's ceremony, held at Belmont University.