Journey arrived at our meet-up spot on Ralph Avenue in BedStuy, Brooklyn on Saturday morning, July 30th and found that the area around the Brevoort Houses was roped off by the police. Finding out that one young man was shot and killed and two cousins in Jamaica, Queens were also wounded, we tweeted out the news and started our Journey. Before long, we discovered that a church across the street from the housing project was already at work offering counseling and other help to their neighbors.
According to the police, Charles Byrd, 26, was on his way to pick up his three-year-old daughter from her mother’s house when he was shot. An unknown gunman walked up to Byrd and shot him multiple of times in the torso at 340 Bainbridge Street, near the intersection with Ralph Avenue, around 1:20 a.m. Saturday morning. Byrd was taken to nearby Interfaith Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His 3-year old daughter is living with Byrd’s mother.
Police statistics record that in the 81st precinct that covers east side of BedStuy and includes the Brevoort Houses, there were 24 recorded shootings with 35 victims through July 24, compared to 17 shootings with 18 victims last year. At this housing project last year, another man was shot when he was coming to pick up his daughter.
After the shooting across the street, New Jerusalem Holy Temple mobilized counselors for residents. Advice free, love priceless.
Pastor Calvin Moore, his wife Betty and other members opened the doors of the church. The Houses have the highest unemployment rate in BedStuy. 42% of the men in the projects were unemployed, according to figures from the 2015 American Community Survey done by the U.S. Census. Photo: Tony Carnes/A Journey through NYC religions
Sad update:
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