What can we do about kids being in gangs?

I've notived a HUGE problem were in the city I live in. I'm sure it is all over the world that this is going on but in my city we have always have had gangs here yes but its gotten really bad over the last couple of years and now they are taking kids as young as the age of seven years old and brain washing them into their gangs to do all the dirty work for them.

My best friend son who just turned 13 started running away from a few months ago. She asked cops to help her but there was nothing they could do and she was not allowed to force him to stay home. He started breaking into cars and stealing steros, writing on peoples walls,and doing drugs. She called places to help her but we are so low on funding they have nothing to help. We then started to notice him writing gang signs all over things and letters about selling drugs and killing people ect. She talked with him and he did tell her was a part of a gang now and that no one can stop him from what he wants to do or be. He ran away about 5 or 6 times the last time when we were out looking for him on the streets near a park his gang hangs at we saw him well he pulled out a gun and ran down the street shooting at a car in front of me, his mom, and a bunch of other people as well. he is locked up but they want to let him go in a couple months he is still talking about being in this gang and told his mom to never follow him again and that this is the life he wants and what he is going to do no matter what anyone says. Also here were I live just this weekend we had a bunch of home invasions all done by teenagers and kids. And two shooting also done by kids and teenagers wich im sure are gang related. What can a community do to stop this from getting worse? the cops can not do much about it when the laws do not allow it and funds are so low they want to cut police officers here and got rid of the programs in school that teach kids about gangs and guns!!!!. Im worried for my city and others as well. i frear the gangs will take over all of us if no one does anything. So any help would be great.