Indy pastor calls for peace after teen shot and killed outside church during block party
An Indianapolis pastor is calling for an end to violence after a shooting outside his church left a teenage girl dead and four other people injured.
“We are still keeping the hope alive that we can have peace, but it is very sad,” said Pastor Donald Edwards Jr. “We are trying to bring peace into this community. We will keep going at it.”
It was just after 11 p.m. Monday when the gunfire began. Edwards stepped out of his apartment to a chaotic scene, with people screaming and running and car tires screeching down the street and people fled.
The shooting occurred in the 3200 block of Forest Manor Avenue. Bullets struck the entrance and side of Edwards’ Church of Glory, where he has been a pastor for 25 years. The church has been at its current location for the past 11 years.
Detectives believe the shooting happened during a block party, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
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Several cars were left at the scene and damaged as people tried to flee. It’s believed there were around 100 people in the area when the gunfire erupted.
Police found 16-year-old Serenity Wilson dead at the scene.
"No one has a bad word to say about her,” Edwards said. “She had a beautiful spirit. Even in the photographs you can tell she had a great personality. She was just a good young lady.”
Edwards didn’t know the teenager before she was killed but he has been counseling her family. Wilson was a straight A student at Lawrence North High School and liked to dance, Edwards said.
Three other people were shot, and a fourth person had non-gunshot injuries after the shooting, according to police.
"It's very disheartening for this to happen right in our neighborhood,” Edwards said. “The shooting was right by a park we are trying to get up and running.”
Edwards is hoping that having organized sports at the park can give young people in the neighborhood a chance to build relationships and stay out of trouble. He and officials from a few other churches in the area are working together on the effort.
“We need to have a conversation with our youth and ask what's making them happy, sad, angry,” Edwards said. “We need to try and talk them through what they are going through. It takes a village. That's what I want to tell the community is talk to your youth and we can prevent some of this violence.”
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting and police have not released any info on a suspect or suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Kyle Hoover at 317-327-3475 or Kyle.Hoover@Indy.gov. To remain anonymous those with information can contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
Contact the reporter at 463-214-7590.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy pastor calls for peace after teen shot and killed outside church
