VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia Beach pastor said he's had enough after watching countless Hampton Roads families go through the same trauma his family has been through: losing a loved one to gun violence.
Pastor James Risper said he's been in contact with 20-year-old Keshawn Woodhouse's family. The young man died on Fox Creek Court in early October after police said 19-year old Javon Pollard shot and killed him.
"You can hear it in [his mother's] voice, the pain she is feeling, but trying to sound normal," said Pastor Risper. "We need to do more as a community, and say we've had enough."
It's why Pastor Risper said he is holding his own gun violence vigil at 7 p.m. tonight at 1021 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Risper said for him, the issue is personal, because he lost his son to gun violence in 2006 after someone shot and killed him in Virginia Beach. Risper said nearly 20 years later, it's still unbelievable other families are still going through the same pain.
"No one thinks it's gonna happen to them until it's too late," said Risper. "This is a community-wide problem, it doesn't matter what neighborhood you live in at this point, you will be impacted because you know someone or a family who has lost someone."
All attendees are encouraged to wear black T-shirts. Risper said the vigil is open to everyone, but he will stand there alone, pleading for an end to gun violence.