Charles Young Park was quiet on Sunday. The sounds of fountains and the breeze were a stark contrast to Saturday night, when gunshots rang out during a community concert.
Eric Smith, a Deacon at Liberty Baptist Church, led prayer steps away from the spot where his 16-year-old cousin, Di'Zohn Robertson, was fatally shot.
"A sweet young man. Would do anything for anybody."
A sweetness that was taken in an instant.
"An unruly, unGodly person destroyed that," Smith said.
During a press briefing just before the prayer vigil, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said this "one incident" would not define the community.
"This is not indicative of what the East End is about," said Weathers.
Devine Carama, Director of ONE Lexington, was visibly shaken.
"I was a few inches away from not coming home to my family," Carama said. "I seen (sic) my brothers helping those who were shot. There were young people underneath me asking me, 'Mr. Devine am I gonna die?' Unacceptable for our kids to have to deal with that kind of trauma."
ONE Lexington is a community violence-intervention program to reduce gun violence among youth and young adults. They will be holding healing and mental health services to assist anyone affected by Saturday's tragedy, which began with Sunday's prayer vigil.
Monday, am — ONE Lexington, community leaders at FCPS
- William Wells Brown Elementary
- Academics of Bryan Station High School
- Henry Clay High School
- Lexington Middle School
Monday, 2–3:30 p.m. — Community Healing Space for Adults
- Dunbar Community Center, 545 N. Upper St.
- For adults directly affected by the shooting.
- Connects participants with long-term trauma and mental-health resources.
Monday, 5–7 p.m. — Community Healing Space for Youth and Students
- Dunbar Community Center, 545 N. Upper St.
- Designed to help young people process and navigate the traumatic event.
