Homicide And Gun Crime News 03/03/2023

(February 28) New Orleans Pastor Fights To Save ‘Murder Capital’ 6 Months After Son Shot Just Blocks From Church | New Orleans. LA

A New Orleans pastor has spent the last 23 years serving his church and community members, but when his son was shot and killed, he was given a redefined purpose to stop the violence that's plagued his home city as one of the nation's murder capitals.

"Something precious was taken from me and this world," St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church senior pastor the Rev. Orin D. Grant Sr. told Fox News.

"But we're going to keep his memory alive," Grant said. "We're keeping his message alive and we're keeping this ministry alive."

Read the full article click here

(February 28) Memphis Teen 1 Of 2 Charged In Church Leader's 2022 Killing | Memphis, TN

A 15-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man have been indicted in the carjacking and fatal shooting of a prominent United Methodist Church leader in Memphis, Tennessee, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Miguel Andrade, 15, and Eduard Rodriguez-Tabora, 21, were each indicted on charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery in the July 18, 2022, death of the Rev. Autura Eason-Williams, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Read the full article click here

(February 27) UPDATE: Vehicle Wanted In Connection To Victory Church Murder Located | Bloomington, IL

The McLean County Sheriff’s office located a vehicle wanted in connection to a Victory Church homicide Monday.

According to a Sheriff’s department press release, the black 2015 Lincoln Sedan that was wanted in connection to the death of 20-year-old Kiejoun Watts was located at 10 a.m.

Watts body was located with a deadly gunshot wound at Victory Church after reports of unusual activity in the area on Feb. 20.

Read the full article click here

(February 25) Man Charged With Homicide After Milwaukee Pastor Killed In Reckless Driving Crash

Prosecutors charged Jose Manuel Silva with second-degree reckless homicide on Friday. The 22-year-old sped through a red light near 10th and Wells, crashing into a pastor who was driving to church. According to TMJ4, Silva allegedly then traveled east and hit four unoccupied parked vehicles.

Pastor Aaron Strong of Grace Lutheran Church was struck in front of the Milwaukee County Courthouse around 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

In a criminal complaint, Silva claimed he drove through the intersection at a yellow light and thought he was driving close to the speed limit. But a witness says she saw Silva speeding at 70-80 miles per hour and heard a loud crash after witnessing Silva drive through a red light.

Read the full article click here