Glen Hazel Residents Hope Vigil Will Help Stop The Violence
GLEN HAZEL (KDKA) -- Neighbors in Glen Hazel started taking a stand immediately after the Oct. 13 murder of a young man who was gunned down on Roselle Drive.
Killed was 22-year-old Marcus Critten and another man was critically injured.
It was actually the first homicide in the entire area of Zone 4 in two years.
Monday night, members of the Morning Star Baptist Church and the Glen Hazel Community Resident Management Corporation announced plans for a "Walk of Peace" on Tuesday at 6 p.m. It begins at several points and ends at the Robert Vavro Sr. Gazebo on Second Avenue in Hazelwood.
That's where a candlelight vigil and prayer service will be held recognizing all those who've lost their lives to gun violence. Organizers also talked about other initiatives, including additional block watch groups.
Saundra McKamey told KDKA's Kym Gable, "I think it would help stop a lot of the crime in our community because we don't want to stay in our house. We like to come out and socialize with each other. We like to have different functions in our community and we don't want to be afraid to do that."
A group of more than 20 met at the gazebo in Roselle Court. Their song and prayer drew curious onlookers, many of whom stopped to sing and pray with the group.
One of them was resident Rhonda Bundridge. She told KDKA she'll go door to door to recruit neighbors to help stop the violence in their communities.
"I hope it turns a lot of people around, make them think there's more to life," said Bundridge. "That's my hope. That's my prayer."
Participants in the Unity Walk can meet at the Glen Hazel Recreation Center, the Hazelwood YMCA, or at the corner of Renova Street and Second Avenue. The walk starts at 6 p.m. on Oct. 21.
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