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Mourners gather to remember six Warren teens killed
By DANNY RESTIVO
WARREN
Nearly 100 people congregated around a downtown pavilion Saturday night to remember six young lives that were taken a week ago.
“We’re all here tonight to acknowledge the positive impact each one of them had on our lives and on our community,” said Judy Campbell, a community outreach pastor.
Campbell and Pastor Larry Stephens of the Youngstown City and Regional Prayer Team spoke to a crowd on Courthouse Square. Their messages and prayers were in honor of Alexis S. Cayson, 19; Andrique L. “Butter” Bennett, 14; Brandon A. Murray, 14; Daylan Ray, 14; Ramone J. White, 15; and Kirklan Behner, 15. All six were killed in a car accident last Sunday morning.
Stephens said families, friends and community members can comfort one another by creating positive messages.
“It doesn’t help [the families and loved ones] to speculate on why they were out, or what they were doing,” said Stephens. “We do not want to see the community and families divide themselves over this. We can only begin the healing process when a positive message is spoken.”
After prayers from Stephens and Campbell, the crowd sang “Amazing Grace” while holding lighted candles.
Saturday night’s ceremony was the third that Selma Burch of Warren had attended in a week. Burch said she worked with Brandon A. Murray’s mother, while her husband had worked with all six children as an employee in the school district. She shares the grief of many in the community, but takes solace in the community’s response to the tragedy.
“It’s very touching and moving for the community to come and support one another like this,” said Burch. “We just need to get over the pain right now.”
D’onte Ogletree, 13, attended the candlelight vigil with his friends Nehelmiah Jones, 8, and Emmanuel Jones, 10. All three said they knew most of the victims. D’onte said he was familiar with five of them, but was unable to attend any ceremonies until Saturday night. He said he’s still in shock over everything that has happened.
“The whole thing is just heartbreaking,” he said.