Valley faith leaders pray for peace

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
Rain and chilly conditions couldn’t prevent locals from gathering Thursday afternoon to pray for peace and unity in McKeesport.
A large group of McKeesport area spiritual leaders formed a prayer circle around 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Uni-Mart convenience store/gas station on Versailles Avenue.
It’s the site of a double-shooting that occurred Dec. 13 and left 16-year-old Chance Naylor of McKeesport dead and another juvenile in critical condition.
Naylor was a student of McKeesport Area School District, as is the other victim.
The identity of the second victim hasn’t been released by police and an arrest hasn’t been made. Allegheny County police are asking anyone with information to call their tipline at 1-833-255-8477.
A group of about 20 people — diverse in age, race and gender — showed up Thursday to pray or offer prayers and remarks, and there were moments of singing spiritual music.
Their words carried a similar message: The community needs to come together and work together to support youths and families if they wish to successfully confront gun violence and violent crime in the area.
The faith leaders were joined Thursday by people who said they wanted to pray for their city, pray for the families of Naylor and the other victim and to pray for peace ahead of the Christmas weekend. The prayer circle was organized by NAACP McKeesport Unit President Brenda Sawyer, but it was led by Pastor Terry Johnson of Christ Temple AME in McKeesport.

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