Laurel prayer group coming together to put a stop to gun violence

LAUREL, Del. – Sunday, community members came together after finding out that Laurel High School senior Corey Mumford was shot and killed Friday at the Wexford Village Apartment complex.

Family, friends, and residents of Laurel joined together at New Zion Hall to pray and come together to try to find comfort during this tragedy. Amy Handy has been a teacher in Laurel for 30 years and helped organize the prayer group.

Handy says that the hearts of the community members are broken. She says  she grew up with the Mumford’s and are close with both sides of the family.

“Corey made a tremendous impact on everyone he came in contact with,” said Handy. “Everyday, when he saw me and his other teachers, he would greet us with a hug and it is one thing that I am really going to miss.”

Born and raised in the area, Handy says she is devastated to lose a student with such a promising future. “Gun violence continues to impact not just our community, but communities all across the country. When things happen in a rural town like ours it just brings me so close to the forefront of our minds. We are hurt, we are angry, and we are still just finding out how we can get the guns off of the street,” says organizer, Amy Handy.

Handy says that up to 80 people came out to the prayer call including members of the local churches, youth, and the Mayor of Laurel. One of the main reasons the prayer group was held was to pray for strength for the Mumford family. She also said the community meeting was to pray for healing for our community, safety for our children, and positive dialogue for specific solutions to be presented to the town council in days to come.

“We have been talking to nearby local towns in the community collectively to try to find solutions to this epidemic,” Handy said.

A school board meeting is being held on Wednesday of this upcoming week.