Six shots were fired from a passing car at a house and shed Thursday afternoon, and one hit a 6-year-old boy playing in the yard.

Thankfully, the young boy does not have life-threatening injuries. I’m sure the thugs who shot him wouldn’t care one way or the other, though, as I’m sure they have no regard for human life.

Here’s the best part of the whole story:

Anderson said there were several witnesses in the area, but no one was cooperating with police.

I know that there is some fear of retribution on witnesses that comes into play. I would hope, however, that nothing could stop me from providing information about someone who shot a first-grader!

More than fear, though, seems to be the desire to avoid the dreaded label of “snitch”. I’ve seen t-shirts at mall kiosks with the phrase “Don’t Say Nothing” and the word Snitch crossed out. Of course, by using the double negative the article of clothing actually encourages people to talk, but I digress. Part of the hip-hop culture that is appropriately under attack right now involves not being helpful to the cops when a crime has been committed. I understand possibly being wary of the police as the techniques used to catch criminals are not always kosher with Constitutional rights, but that doesn’t mean that you let a murderer continue to roam the streets.

As most people know by now, rapper Cam’ron (real name Cameron … very creative rap name there … just remove a vowel and, wala, instead street cred) has stated the following:

“If I knew the serial killer was living next door to me? I wouldn’t call and tell anybody on him,” Giles stated in the interview. “But I’d probably move. I’m not going to call and be like, ‘The serial killer’s in 4E.’”

The interview is part of Cooper’s report on how hip-hop tends to send a message to its listeners to avoid aiding police in solving murders. Giles was shot in the arm three times in 2005 while in Washington, D.C., but the Harlem native would not cooperate with the police.

“It would definitely hurt my business,” he responded after Cooper asks him why he never turned in the gunmen. “And the way I was raised, I just don’t do that.”

Warms the heart, doesn’t it? His momma raised him not to tell on people who shoot him. Did that lesson come right before or after the discussion about always cleaning your plate and being respectful to elders?

It’s so sad that listeners of Cam’ron’s “music” would lose respect for him as an artist (can’t help but laugh as I type that phrase) if he chose not to protect a murderer. Such a lovely commentary on society. What a twisted code of ethics.

Cam’ron — your beautiful music has inspired me. From now on, I’m going to tell everyone I know that my name is “S’rah”. Please note the change.