Pastor Sets Up Program To Stem Gun Violence
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Fed up with the recent rash of shootings in his community, a Miami Gardens pastor is trying to do something about it.
On Monday Pastor Eric Readon, of New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church, announced that they were starting a mentoring program which will be held on Wednesdays beginning at 5:45 p.m. The program is open to any child, according to Readon, troubled or not.
The goal is to reduce the number of young people being hurt or killed by gun violence. The shooting happened Sunday afternoon.
Witnesses said 16-year old Michael Green was in front of a home at 2486 N.W. 171st Terrace when he was shot twice by the occupants of a red or burgundy pick up truck. Green, who was hit in the upper left shoulder and grazed in the calf, was taken to the Ryder Trauma Center.
Readon says enough is enough.
"All kids deserve a chance. Every Child deserves a chance. I had the chance to have a chance. But now a days it seems that the kids aren't even getting a chance. They're dying at five, they're dying at six, they are dying at 14, they're not even living to be 18 any more," said Readon. "We have created this to give kids a chance, to try and give them a chance at life so they can have life even in the midst of death."
Sources told CBS4 that Green is a student at Miami Norland Senior High and was suspended after he got into a fight there two weeks ago.
Investigators have not said if they believe the fight and the shooting are related.