ICP Orlando held a candlelight vigil on Friday to remember the three victims of the Pine Hills shooting tragedy that shocked the community.
Wesh2 News reported that the west Orange County church ICP Orlando hosted the community gathering to honor the victims and console their families.
"In your moment of trouble, in your moment of sorrow, you can call on the Lord," the church's pastor, Rene Baez, told the crowd.
Community Rallies Behind Victims, Their Families
WESH2 News said Pastor Baez's church led the show of the community's support for the families of those who perished in the recent gun violence.
The report identified the victims as 9-year-old T'Yonna Major, 38-year-old Natchacha Augustin, and 24-year-old Dylan Lyons, a reporter for Spectrum news.
Baez told reporters that the candlelight vigil his church spearheaded was not the end of the local community's support for the victims and the loved ones they left behind. The pastor said his church is leaving its doors open for the victims' families and anyone in the community who seeks spiritual help.
Meanwhile, former NYPD officer Victor Lopez said he 'prays for healing for the community.' The retired law enforcement agent said he is one with the community in 'praying for healing in the families that lost their loved ones.'
The report said the community's outpouring of support did not go unnoticed.
Phyllis Turner-Robinson, T'Yonna's aunt, explained that the community's gestures tell them 'they were not suffering alone.'
"We greatly appreciate each and every one of you and we thank God for you guys," WESH2 News quoted her saying.
Aside from the candles lit and words of encouragement, the Lutheran Church Ministries also sent its comfort dog to help ease the pain of the victims' families.
Friends Remember Shooting Victims
Two of 38-year-old Augustin's friends at the event spoke about her as a person and friend.
Laddie Calloway told reporters that Augustin supported her friends 'more than she did for herself.' Calloway explained it was 'the biggest thing' about her friend that she can remember.
Meanwhile, Shaka Smith, another of Augustin's friends, described the latter as 'sweet and too innocent.'
"That's something I can't cope with, not just the love I got from her. She's good people, but that's another family member losing their life over nonsense," Smith, who disclosed she had been friends with Augustin for a decade, said during the vigil.
Meanwhile, a coworker of T'Yonna's father, Julie Schroeder, said the girl "had her full life to live," which makes her death more painful.
Fox35 Orlando identified the shooter as 19-year-old Keith Kevin Moses. The news outlet disclosed in a report that Moses has a rather lengthy criminal history. Accordingly, given his past criminal activities, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd questioned why the state's criminal justice system allowed such a 'dangerous individual' to roam the streets.
About ICP Orlando
Its website says ICP Orlando is a "bilingual Christian church" serving Orlando residents. ICP Orlando has an English worship service every Sunday at 9 a.m. and Spanish worship on the same day at 11 a.m. Its Tuesday Prayer service, meanwhile, is scheduled at 10 a.m.
The church is located at 5850 Clarcona Ocoee Rd.
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