MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Investigators with Arkansas State Police were in Wynne on Monday, assisting local law enforcement after Saturday’s shooting at a block party, which left one man dead and at least nine people hurt.
Local pastors are now coming together in the wake of the violence.
“It was a block party right here where we standing at, having a good time, but somebody decided to interrupt with gunfire,” said Freddie Smith, Pastor of Strong Tower The Temple Church.
The shooting took place Saturday night on Williams Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Street, leaving 27-year-old Varian Campbell dead.
Pastor Smith says he is close friends with Campbell’s father.
“He called me, and we talked about 30 minutes last night. (I was) encouraging him to keep his head up. I realize his heart has been broken, he lost his son. But, I prayed with him, and he said he was going to be okay,” said Pastor Smith.
According to witnesses, Campbell was caught in the crossfire of an argument between two men.
The shooting caused chaos as partygoers fled. Two victims were reportedly run over by vehicles leaving the scene.
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“Guns everywhere. Guns everywhere. The gun itself is not doing the damage, it’s the person that got it,” said Pastor Smith.
Pastor Smith is also the President of a local Ministers Alliance. He says preachers in Wynne are united in stopping violence, and Saturday’s tragedy is a call for action.
“That’s why we pastors have stepped up, and said we’re going to start monitoring everything that’s going on. We want to know what’s going on in our city. If they see the pastors, the leaders there, maybe they will respect that,” he said.
