Church leaders called to act to end surge of violence after quadruple homicide
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WISH) — The killings of four people have prompted a new call for church leaders to talk about stopping the violence.
News 8 spoke with Brea Ford, a sister to victim 21-year-old Braxton Ford.
Brea Ford said Braxton was a cousin to Jalen Roberts, 19, and she was visiting him when he, she and two others were murdered inside a northeast side apartment Wednesday night.
Brea said Braxton was a loving brother, uncle, son and beautiful soul all around. He was an accomplished Boy Scout and made Eagle Scout in June 2017 and graduated from Lawrence North High School.
The Rev. Charles Harrison on Friday morning tweeted a call of action to church leaders around the city to address the senseless violence at Sunday services.
“Everyone said that we’re going to do it, not just this Sunday, but some pastors said over the next month. We’re going to begin to talk about this issue every Sunday in our churches,” Harrison said. “It’s going to take all of us. I don’t think law enforcement can solve the problems that is leading to the violence so we have to take a greater roll in curbing the violence.”
Urban and suburban churches are wanting to start conversations on solutions to bring peace into communities and discuss the surge of violence in the last 90 days.
“We have had 179 people shot, we have had 59 people stabbed, and we have had 51 people murdered. Those are the numbers and if we projected out at this pace, we can end the year with 200 homicides. This city has never seen that level of violence.”
