Friends, Family Of Young Murder Victim Call For Change In Community

Young community members gathered Saturday night to honor a 21-year-old murder victim, and to call for change in an area deeply affected by crime.

Pastor Lamont Littlejohn from Mount Calvary Baptist Church said the gathering was a statement.

“Enough is enough,” he said.

In a three-week span, four Cleveland County residents in their 20s were murdered. Leon Thurman was the most recent victim.

Littlejohn said at some point his eulogy of the dead became a challenge to the living.

“To rescue our children,” he said. “To restructure our community.”

Saturday, the group walked out of Mount Calvary Baptist Church and into the street. Shelby police said the night was one of the most peaceful they have seen in a while.

“Words can't even explain what went on,” Sharon Crank, Thurman’s aunt, said.

Littlejohn said he is hoping to bring change to the area. He plans to meet with other area ministers this week to plan more events to combat crime.

Police said they are aggressively fighting crime in the area, but added that one of the best crime-fighting tools is a community fed up with what's happening around them. Officers are hoping this surge in a desire for peacefulness will have a lasting impact.