I am sorry to hear about your friend.

Living in the area, I know of others that have been victims of violence in Detroit. However, none of these people have been so close.

I have heard people argue that "Detroit isn't as dangerous as people think." But, my personal experience is that it is dangerous enough not to ignore.

Can we blame them? Would I hate if I were raised like these criminals must have been? I can only assume that each of these individuals grew up dirt poor, probably abused and neglected, with no love to speak of.

IMO this is the crux of the problem. There are plenty of Detroiters that are full of love and community. However, there is a large portion of urban black culture in the US that is broken. Many have grown in a culture that preaches materialism, violence, and sexism, while devaluing community, family, and pacifism. It emboldens and validates, but also damns them to there current situation. IMO it is fueled by disenfranchisement in the US as a whole, but also from a vicious cycle that has taken root in the community itself.

The violence cannot be justified. But I don't think it can't be stopped either. IMO it can only be slowly undone by broad and purposeful efforts by all.