In response to the tragic shooting of a 6-year-old boy, the Jacksonville community united to create proactive strategies to prevent future violence.<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE, Ark. \u2014 Faith leaders met earlier tonight in response to the shooting that took the life of a six-year-old boy earlier this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Jacksonville Pastoral Alliance said its goal now is to create a plan to prevent violence in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole city is in shock,\u201d Pastor Eddie Miller of New Commandment Church said.<\/p>\n
Pastors in the Jacksonville area came together to be the solution for the community when it comes to violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we want to put together a plan that will be proactive rather than reactive. We don’t want to keep meeting like this after a situation has happened. We want to be on the front end to make sure we can stop this from happening before it starts, and provide something that will allow our children to be able to get involved in positive actions,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n
Conversations took place around different programs for at-risk youth and prevention and intervention.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat way, we can make sure they’re as safe as possible, but it’s going to take the whole community, it’s going to take every one of us. You’re talking about a village; we need the whole village to come together now. This child being shot over the weekend really was just like a bomb dropped here, and we can’t just let it drop, and we do not do anything. Time is over for talking about it. It’s time to be about it and do something about it,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville council member Dr. Trenika McCoy said the meeting is a step towards starting prevention in younger youth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know by the time the children reach middle school, sometimes it’s not late, but it’s harder to bring them back from where they have been, a place where they are struggling more, challenge more,\u201d McCoy said.<\/p>\n
Another piece of the conversation was partnering with law enforcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we saw that in the room tonight, that those pastors are saying, ‘Hey, pick, I’m ready to go, I’m ready to help, and I’m there for you. Just let me know where I’m needed.’ But I think even beyond that, waiting rather than waiting for them to tell us, I think our next move is going to be, how can we stay connected, so we’re not waiting for them, but we’re both meeting in the middle, so that we know that they need us, but they know that we’re there for them when they do, and I think that’s where the presence comes in,\u201d McCoy said.<\/p>\n
A vigil is set for the boy on Saturday at 7 pm at the Jacksonville Community Center.<\/p>\n