Samantha Warner (left) organized the peace vigil, which was attended by neighbors, neighborhood children. Founder of non-profit We Love Long Beach Scott Jones (at right) is a Long Beach Post contributor and a neighborhood resident.
8:45am | Members of the community where 22-year old Frank Bryant was shot in the leg on Tuesday organized a candlelight vigil for peace in the Willmore City neighborhood near the area of 8th Street and Cedar Ave.
Bryant suffered a fractured bone in his leg after being shot outside his home by a drive-by shooter earlier in the day. Police are investigating the incident as possibly gang-related, and say that Bryant but is not cooperating with detectives’ investigation thus far.
Community resident Samantha Warner organized the vigil in just a few short hours after an unknown suspect fired between 6-8 rounds, injuring one person before fleeing. Warner says she plans to hold similar vigils every Tuesday at 6:00pm throughout the holidays, and that next time she will bring flowers for the children to hold instead of candles. Warner says she was very pleased with the community turnout and hopes the gatherings will lead to peace.
Police encourage anyone with information regarding the incident to call the Gang Detail at 562.580.7370 or submit an anonymous tip at longbeach.gov/police.
Steve Duday (left) traveled from Bixby Knolls to attend.
Samantha Warner (far right) and other neighborhood residents.
Buddhist chanting.