"I hate coming outside now. I have a daughter now, I'm scared," said a woman who did not want to be identified.
This Easter, residents near the 2700 block of Dr. Ella Piper Way are being forced to celebrate under a veil of fear.
"I don't want my baby to get hurt she could be riding her bike and they could come through shooting again."
She told Fox 4 reporter Deborah Souverain she heard the barrage of bullets that were fired at a home Friday morning during a drive-by shooting, which claimed the live of 17 year-old Nathaniel Pitts and injured another. "I seen Nat's body on the ground, it was crazy."
That haunting image is now fueling mentors at the STARS Complex; a community outreach center Nathaniel once attended.
"We have to show people that violence is not the option," said Minister Gregory Greene.
Saturday night, a dance was held to give teens a positive outlet in a community too often highlighted for negativity. The dance was almost canceled after news of the shooting; however, STARS mentors say they wanted it to go on as a symbol of defiance against silence and fear.
"It all starts with a conversation," said Minister Greene. "We need to learn how to communicate better than what we have."
