Community marches, prays to end violence

JACKSON, Tenn. — West Tennesseans come together to stand up to crime in the spot where the City of Jackson saw its most recent homicide.

They marched, prayed and united in hopes of putting an end to an already violent year in the Hub City.

“There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t cry, that we don’t mourn,” Chiquita Chism said.

The family of Kheirra Murphy laid flowers and candles in the spot where her body was found last month. Police said she was run over multiple times and left to die.

“I just don’t understand how someone could be so cruel,” Kheirra’s mother Shannette Murphy said. “He didn’t just take her, he took me to.”

It was yet another crime that’s lead to an extremely violent start to the year.

“This is the 4th homicide of 2016 and it just started,” Chism said. “I mean come on now we have to get together.”

Dozens joined with Kheirra’s praying and marching to stop the violence.

“I just want it to stop but it wont,” Briana Banes who lost her father to gun violence said. “It’s just constantly happening and I just don’t want it to happen.”

Children joined hands to connect with those who feel the same pain.

“Seeing these people especially the woman whose daughter was killed is just so sad,” Jaklan Banes said. “It feels the same as when I found out my dad died.”

It is a community fighting for a change that is needed now more than ever before.

“The people of Jackson really care about each other and they give a lot of support,” Chism said. “We really need a lot of support right now.”

Jeffrey Mason, the man charged with killing Kheirra Murphy, is currently being held without bond in the Madison County Jail.

City Councilman Johnny Dodd said he will host a community meeting on March 3 at T.R. White Sportsplex to address community concerns about crime in the city.