Pastor dies after shooting at banquet hall, Florida cops say. ‘Changed his life preaching’
A pastor is among two dead after a shooting at a banquet hall in Orlando, according to a Florida sheriff’s office.
Jonathan Lenard Frazier, 36, a pastor at Roam Ministry in Orlando, died two days after he was injured in a shooting at Unity Banquet Hall on June 24, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the event space just after midnight June 24 and found a man inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. Three other people had taken themselves to the hospital.
In total, four people were shot, all of whom were men in their 20s and 30s, according to the sheriff’s office.
Willie Alphonso Bell, Jr., 28, was pronounced dead at a hospital, the sheriff’s office said.
Frazier died at a hospital June 26, the statement says.
Deputies said there were close to 100 people at the event where the shooting occurred, but witnesses have provided little information to investigators.
“We can’t stress enough how important it is for anyone with information to come forward, no matter how insignificant that information may seem,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Loved ones on social media remembered Frazier as a pastor who altered the direction of his life by becoming a preacher and helped others improve their situations.
“My God son changed his life preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ,” wrote Helen Morris Robbins. “He went from prison to the pulpit. Why(?) Please, tell me why(?) I am at a (loss) for words right now.”
Frazier spoke about his time in prison and how his faith helped him persevere during a Father’s Day sermon shared on Facebook by Roam Ministry.
“I spent plenty of nights in a cold cell,” he said in the video of the sermon. “Can’t call on mama. Can’t call on daddy. Can’t call on my friends. The only name I had to call on was Jesus. And every real father has to know how to be a real son.”
Other friends and loved ones said Frazier was always there to give them guidance and offer support and advice in their times of need.
“I could call/text you bout anything (and) you will just listen and give great advice,” wrote Pretty Kenyatta, who said she was his sister-in-law. “You was the only man I was really comfortable talking to.”
Elijah Montgomery wrote that Frazier was a friend who always lent a hand, who lived by his principles and who tried to inspire others.
“The world needs dozens of people like (you),” he wrote. “Now we down a great man.”
Frazier’s brother and sister-in-law did not respond to requests for comment from McClatchy News.
Family members and friends also mourned the death of Bell, whom they called humble, respectful and good-hearted.
“You were the definition of a friend, brother, and a solid man,” wrote Yahlisia McDowell. “To know you was to love you.”
Bell’s cousin wrote that he was a good person and also shared a post from detectives offering a reward of up to $5,000 for those who could provide information that led to suspects in the shooting.
“Help find whoever did this,” wrote Patrice Mays II. “My cousin was humble, college educated, a business owner, had a good heart… His light was too bright to go out like this!”
Bell’s sister, Maylasia Bell, wrote she had just celebrated her graduation with her big brother.
“The time never matter, distance never matter, I called you picked up,” she wrote. “I texted you respond… Now, I will never get that.”
Maylasia Bell did not respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.
Anyone with information on the shooting can call Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-8477 and remain anonymous, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
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