Dr. Ronald Gates, an Asheville pastor and sheriff’s office chaplain, says city leaders ignored his proposal for a youth gang-prevention program first presented in 2016. His criticism follows retaliatory shootings in the North Carolina mountain city that left two people dead and seven wounded. Officials have described the incidents as retaliation between groups of friends rather than gang-related violence. Gates argues that the terminology should not prevent early intervention for children at risk of being drawn into crime.
Gates says the proposed program would combine classroom lessons with mentorship, educational support and legitimate work opportunities. He believes the city should address the conditions that make gangs appealing before young people become involved in shootings, drug activity or other crimes.
| Article Subheadings | |
|---|---|
| 1) | A decade-long prevention proposal |
| 2) | Debate over how Asheville labels violence |
| 3) | What the proposed program would provide |
| 4) | Gates’s personal experience with gangs |
| 5) | Crime figures and calls for earlier action |
A decade-long prevention proposal
Dr. Ronald Gates, senior pastor of Greater Works Church of God in Christ, says he first presented Asheville officials with a youth gang-prevention proposal in 2016. He says he approached mayors, city and county managers, police chiefs and sheriff’s officials over the following decade, asking them to test the initiative for one year.
Gates learned about Gang Free during a 2016 trip to California. The Los Angeles-based program is designed for students in grades four through six and explains how gangs recruit children, use symbols and colors, and involve younger members in carrying drugs, weapons or messages. Gates says he wanted Asheville to act before youth violence became more deeply established.
Debate over how Asheville labels violence
The debate intensified after a series of retaliatory shootings in Asheville left two people dead and seven others wounded. The violence occurred in a tourist city where officials have avoided formally describing the incidents as gang-related, instead characterizing them as retaliation among groups of friends.
Dr. Ronald Gates says that distinction understates the broader dynamics behind the violence. He acknowledges that not every dispute is gang-related, but argues that repeated cycles of retaliation can reflect group pressure, status, territory and a demand for retribution even without a formal gang designation.
“They did not want to actually acknowledge that it was gang activity,” Gates said. “They wanted to make sure that they tried to whitewash the narrative as they’re saying that these are just retaliations between individuals.”
What the proposed program would provide
Gates says prevention would need to extend beyond lessons about gang recruitment. Under his model, law enforcement officers, mentors and local business owners would work with children in their neighborhoods, offering educational help, guidance and exposure to entrepreneurship.
He says young people may be attracted to gangs because of money, recognition, protection or a desire to support their families. Local businesses could demonstrate lawful ways to earn money, while the city could help fund stipends or similar opportunities. The goal would be to offer practical alternatives before children are asked to carry weapons, move drugs or participate in retaliation.
“Now they’re learning how to make honest money, business money, capital, instead of putting their life on the line,” Gates said.
Gates’s personal experience with gangs
Dr. Ronald Gates says his concerns are shaped by his childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he had gang ties and was loosely associated with the Vice Lords. He credits his father, older brother and participation in sports with helping him avoid deeper involvement.
That experience informs his belief that intervention must begin before children become immersed in street life. Gates says young people without consistent mentors or father figures may seek guidance and protection from older gang members, who can pressure them into dangerous acts while avoiding the most severe consequences themselves.
“I thank God that someone intervened,” Gates said.
Crime figures and calls for earlier action
State data cited in the report shows Asheville recorded 42% more violent crime in 2024 than in 2016, although its overall crime index declined 8%. Aggravated assaults increased from 335 to 558 during that period, while reported robberies fell. Violent crime peaked in 2022 and declined in each of the next two years, but the 2024 total remained above the 2016 level.
Dr. Ronald Gates says officials told him in 2016 that Asheville did not have the level of gang activity needed to justify the program. He says he warned leaders to act before the problem escalated and later pointed to the subsequent violence as evidence that prevention should not depend on a formal label. Asheville officials were asked whether they reviewed the proposal and why it was not adopted.
“Is it even worth retaliating?” Gates said. “Is it worth losing my life or going to prison for the rest of my life?”
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gates says he proposed youth gang prevention in Asheville in 2016. |
| 2 | Recent retaliatory shootings killed two people and wounded seven. |
| 3 | The proposal combines prevention education, mentorship and lawful earning opportunities. |
| 4 | Asheville’s 2024 violent crime total was above its 2016 level. |
Summary
The dispute over Asheville’s response centers on whether officials should wait to identify gang activity formally or invest earlier in youth prevention. Gates says mentorship, education and legitimate economic opportunities could help interrupt cycles of retaliation. The available crime figures show a mixed picture, with violent crime below its 2022 peak but still higher in 2024 than in 2016. His broader message is that young people need trusted adults and alternatives before violence produces another shooting, arrest or death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prevention program did Gates propose?
He proposed bringing Gang Free to Asheville, with lessons for students in grades four through six about gang recruitment and the consequences of involvement.
What recent violence prompted renewed scrutiny?
A series of retaliatory shootings left two people dead and seven wounded. Officials described the incidents as retaliation between groups of friends rather than gang-related violence.
What does Gates say the program should include?
He says it should combine prevention education with mentors, law enforcement participation, academic support, entrepreneurship exposure and lawful opportunities to earn money.
