Community rallies to stop gun violence following fatal shooting in Pelham Parkway
The group known as Stand Up to Violence, or SUV, led the group on White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, which was located down the street from where police said 33-year-old Kemahni Smalls, of Staten Island, was fatally shot on Sunday.
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Bullhorns and voices echoed through the Pelham Parkway streets, as the community rallied on Friday afternoon to stop gun violence.
The group known as Stand Up to Violence, or SUV, led the group on White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, which was located down the street from where police said 33-year-old Kemahni Smalls, of Staten Island, was fatally shot on Sunday.
“It’s painful,” said Zachary Felder, who said he was friends with the victim. “I feel lost.”
Felder said he was friends with Smalls, who was a man who wanted to help others.
“My son just came home from prison,” said Felder. “He went to prison when he was 16 for a shooting and came home. He was 21, and Kemahni was willing to help him.”
Police said a 32-year-old man was also shot on Sunday but is stable.
As of Friday night, it is unclear what led to the shooting.
“One shot fired anywhere is one shot too many,” said Pastor Jay Gooding Sr., of Stand Up to Violence.
For the first time, the community activists took their call through the streets and drove a mile to Jacobi Hospital, where they held a prayer service and moment of silence in honor of gun violence victims.
“If you look up the word ‘lively’ in the dictionary, you would see Kemahni’s face,” Felder said. “He would always be able to make you laugh. If you were down, he would always make the best out of any type of bad situation.”
As of Friday night, police said no arrests had been made.
Investigators said the shooter was last seen wearing a tri-colored hooded sweatshirt, black sneakers and dark-colored sweatpants.
