Millwood Shooting Prompts Candle-Light Vigil
Fearing that violence is taking over the Spokane Valley, West Valley SCOPE will hold a candle-light vigil on Friday to rally the community in the wake of Sunday’s drive-by shooting in Millwood.
SCOPE West Valley President Bill Langdon, who is organizing the gathering, said Valley residents are tired of the violence and will use the vigil to take back their neighborhoods.
“We want to make it so our kids don’t have to be afraid - as well as our grown-up people,” Langdon said.
Activities, which will include a short talk from Millwood Presbyterian Church minister Clayton McDaniel, are set to begin at 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the Albertsons at 8851 E. Trent
Sunday’s drive-by shooting which injured three youths - one seriously - sparked the gathering. The Albertsons is the same store from which the youths called for help.
SCOPE West Valley will also hold its monthly meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the Millwood town hall. Included on the agenda will be discussion about starting a citizen patrol unit to act as “the eyes and ears of the Sheriff’s Department,” Langdon said.
The unit has been considered for a while, but Langdon said he hopes the unit will begin cruising the streets within a couple of weeks.
Since Sunday’s shooting, Langdon said the SCOPE office at 9411 E. Trent has been deluged with Valley residents. Some have inquired about what they could do to help stop the violence. Others wanted to know more about the shooting. But all have been concerned.
“It seems like people don’t want to get involved until something really bad happens,” Langdon said. “It’s kind of a sad thing it has to happen that way, but maybe something positive will come from this.”
Other than McDaniel’s remarks, there is no set agenda for the vigil expected to last two hours. Langdon hopes the stance will show community that its residents are tired of the violence.
“Hopefully the kids will bring the parents and the parents will bring the kids,” Langdon said. “I imagine there are some awfully scared kids running around out there.”
Injured in the shooting were Torrey Lowery, 18, Heidi Hughes, 20, and Sabrina Lewin, 17.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested on five counts of first-degree assault and has admitted being involved in the shooting.
“It’s not right to settle your differences with a gun,” Langdon said. “It really went to the extreme - probably on both sides.”
, DataTimes