Victims of Violent Crimes Vigil

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Chattanooga Police chaplains are teaming up with community members to pay tribute to local victims of violent crimes with a prayer vigil.

Organizers say prayer vigils are becoming some-what of a tradition in our city, with at least one being held every month, which started in May of this year. And tonight, there was one held for September.

Chaplains with the Chattanooga Police Department are praying for the victims, and community members affected by violent crimes committed this year in our city.

Janthony Taylor, Jr. one of the chaplains stated, “We ask that God would give us–bring peace to our city, to our young people, to our old people, to people in general.”

A local pastor by the name of Johnathan Thomas also stated, “I think we’re moving in the right direction, it just takes time. We didn’t have this problem over night, so it won’t get solved over night, it’s just going to take some time.”

But not everyone came to the vigil to stand in silence, Alexandria Frazier came with something to say, “Obviously young people ain’t in church no more, you got to go to them, you got to go to where they are.”

Frazier says she was extremely close to both Bianca Horton, who was recently injured during a late night shooting, and Talitha Bowman who was gunned-down during the same incident.

“No mama should have to bury their child. Not especially from a gunshot wound anyway. You give birth to your child, you carry your child, you defend your child right or wrong, that’s one thing you–a mama always says lord take me before you take my child.”

That soon sparked another local resident by the name of Demetrius Solomon to also speak out at the prayer vigil, “We’re not gonna give up hope for Talitha, we’re not going to give up hope for Bianca or Zoe, we’re going to continue to fight every day until justice is served. And we want the community to step up, because we can’t do it by yourselves, these ministers that are out here today can’t do it by themselves it takes a community, and we need to communities help.”

All community prayer vigils held by Chattanooga Police Chaplains are open to the public.