Prayer vigil and peace walk held in Salisbury following July 5th mass shooting

SALISBURY, Md. – Local law enforcement, legislators, religious leaders, and community members came together for a prayer vigil and peace walk Sunday evening in Salisbury.

This comes after six people were injured and a 14-year-old was killed by gunfire in Salisbury during the early morning hours of July 5th. We’re told the goal is to start the process of healing for a community that is deeply mourning.

The health department was also there, providing residents with mental health resources. Officials at the event say there needs to be more solutions to keep the youth safe.

“We have talked for some time about reinstituting an initiative about hotspots where our community leaders are identified, as well as law enforcement, with housing code enforcement and some other entities on a weekly basis to share that information. All of us see things from different lenses,” said Speaker Pro Tem Sheree Sample-Hughes.

“Our Laws need to be changed. Guns are not bad. Guns do not hurt anybody. They only hurt people when they are in the hands of irresponsible people. When guns are in the hands of children, when guns are in the hands of gang members, this is when we see tragedy like this happen,” said Rev. Dr. Lewis N. Watson of the First Baptist Church of Salisbury.

The Speaker Pro Tem also said the governor has funding to support youth initiatives to keep kids engaged in extracurricular activities. Mental health officials say that anyone in need or anyone grieving can call the Suicide Hotline at 988.