WREG.com

Community rallies against violent crime in Frayser

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Monday the Frayser community came together to fight back against violence after a 17-year-old was shot and killed Friday behind a school.

We’ve heard of prayer vigils and candlelight vigils, but one community came together to serve food and play games Monday at Frayser Elementary where a 17-year-old Kerr-Dulea Neil was killed.

A prayer was also held for Neil and the youth in the community.

Organizers said they want to send a clear message that they won’t let criminals take over their neighborhood.

“It happened on a playground and our children need to know that’s a place they can stay safe.”

Pastor DeAndre Brown, a leader in the Frayser community, said he wants to prove the recent killing of a teen after school is not normal behavior.

On Monday, his group, Lifeline to Success, is playing games and offering snacks to the neighborhood.

They don’t want people to be afraid of their community, but embrace it.

Friday night shots rang out right across the street from where he works and where he’s trying to make a difference.

“Frayser Elementary is a school we adopted and we actually feed about 100 children after school tomorrow everyday,” said Brown.

A family member of the victim, Kerr-Dulea Neil, told WREG he got caught up with a life on the streets and he’s a victim of his environment.

Tonight his family is hurting.

“Everybody knew him,” said his sister Jakeena Neil.  “He had a big heart, he was silly, he was playful.”

“These are children who are hurting.”

On Monday, Councilwoman Janis Fullilove, who represents the district, told WREG more can be done.

“There’s so many things that can happen that are not happening.”

She said more needs to be done to work with parents and ultimately the problems boil down to living in poverty and having access to good jobs and resources.

“We have to be able to convince our young people the life they’re living is not as advantageous as the life we can provide.”

Brown is now looking for ways to get more resources to build his program to save a young life and prevent more crime scene tape from going up in his neighborhood.

“The more resources would allow us to modify more behavior. We reduce crime by changing the criminal.”

Memphis Police have not released a motive for the shooting of Neil and have not made an arrest.

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