Miami

Families of Shooting Victims Hold March, Vigil in South Florida

Parents of children killed in shootings held a march and candlelight vigil in South Florida Tuesday, ushering in 2019 with a renewed resolve to end gun violence.

It was the third year the event was held, and organizers said they get together to memorialize the victims no longer with them. The march started at Mount Cavalry Baptist Church on Northwest 62nd Street and ended at Tacolcy Park, where every parent who lost a child lit a candle in memory of their child.

"The worst day of my life, worst day of my life," recalled activist Tangela Sears, whose 29-year-old son was shot and killed in 2015.

Tawana Akins, whose nephew, 6-year-old King Carter, was shot and killed in Miami in 2016, also attended the march.

"It's like my heart fell out of my body because I’m thinking of him being 6 years old and shot down," Akins said. "He was trying to run for his life, that’s what he was doing. They say he was one of the ones running from the bullets. But one of the bullets ended up shooting him right in the chest."

Charmaine Roundtree lost her 21-year-old son Michael in Miami Gardens over the summer. She said there are no words to describe her pain.

"I have no words. I've been trying to be strong for my family and my other two children, but it's tough," she said.

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