SANFORD, Fla. — A small crowd gathered in Sanford Saturday night to call for an end to violence, exactly one week after a shooting left eight people hurt.
The event was planned before last weekend’s shooting, but organizers said the violence gave the event new meaning as community members came together to push for change.
“We’re trying to get the community back to how it used to be,” event organizer Deon Casey said.
This was the second effort to gather in the community. On Friday, pastors, community leaders, and residents came together for prayer near the site of the shooting.
Those marching Saturday said they want to see more people take an active role in preventing violence, particularly by reaching young people.
“We need more fathers to step up and be men and teach their kids to be men and do things the right way instead of the wrong way,” Marvin Killingsworth said. “Don’t give your child a gun and tell them to ‘go ahead.’ Give them a tool or hammer or something and teach them to be more sophisticated with their time.”
Gunfire broke out shortly before 10 p.m. last Saturday near 9th Street and Poplar Avenue. Police said eight people were shot. Five have since been released from the hospital, while three remain hospitalized.
The shooting happened during a family gathering honoring an 18-year-old who died in a car crash six years ago.
“We can’t have events anymore, we can’t even come to our old neighborhoods to see our families because there’s shootings, there’s killings going on,” Killingsworth said.
Organizers said even a small turnout can be the beginning of a greater effort.
“It doesn’t matter if one person, 10 people, 1,000 people show up,” Sam Jones Jr. said. “It matters that we came here and we’re going to start being the change.”
Sanford police are continuing to investigate last weekend’s shooting and are asking for the public’s help identifying the drivers of two BMW’s now in police custody that investigators believe may be connected to the shooting.
Crimeline is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
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