CHICAGO — As Mayor Rahm Emanuel seeks to crack down on violence at gang funerals, Chicago police arrested a 17-year-old boy on felony gun charges after he attended the funeral of a gang member Saturday.
Roosevelt J. Yarber, of the 4100 block of West Van Buren Street, was arrested after leaving services for a known member of the Gangster Disciples at Miracle Temple Church, 4645 W. Madison St., in West Garfield Park.
Police said Yarber, who has no known gang ties, was with a larger group of males who are not believed to be affiliated with the Gangster Disciples. Police stopped the group a short distance from the church, and discovered a .44 caliber handgun on the boy, who was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, a felony.
Police said the other males were known gang members; five of them are Four Corner Hustlers, and one is a documented New Breed, police said. The Gangster Disciples and New Breeds are in conflict in the West Side neighborhood, police said.
Emanuel has pledged to crack down on violence that has marred funerals for suspected gang members by placing armed patrols around churches and funeral processions.
Last week, a reputed gang member was gunned down in front of a South Side church after leaving the funeral of another man.
“Gang funerals are going to be treated different, because there’s no respect shown,” Emanuel said at a news conference earlier this week. The expanded police presence included cops bearing automatic rifles at a funeral Tuesday.
