FASS vigil on Sunday
Of the St. Louis American
In a year that saw violence continue to spiral out of control on city streets on both sides of the river, one horrific crime spree stands out.
On a late July day in East St. Louis, Tiffany Hall allegedly murdered Jimella Tunstall and the expectant mother’s unborn child.
After a two-day search, authorities found the bodies of 7-year-old Demond Tunstall, 3-year-old Ivan Tunstall, and 2-year-old Jinella Tunstall. They had also been allegedly killed by Hall.
The victims will be remembered when their names are read aloud during the Families Advocating Safe Streets’ 15th annual New Year’s Eve Candlelight Service at 4 p.m. Sunday (New Year’s Eve) at Saints Fellowship Mission COGIC, 1101 N. Skinker.
The ceremony commemorates those who lost their lives to violence from St. Louis, St. Louis County and East St. Louis.
In St. Louis, the holiday season murder of North City neighborhood merchant Jesse Taylor has sparked several organizations to band together in an effort to stop the growing rash of murder on city streets.
Taylor was murdered during a robbery, even after he had surrendered his money and though he posed no threat to his alleged killers.
“We are not going to sit back and take this any longer,” said the Rev. Sam Moore, spokesman for Families Advocating Safe Streets (FASS).
“It’s time to eradicate the neighborhoods of this crime.”
FASS and other community organizations are teaming with Crimestoppers to create the Jesse Taylor Crime Prevention Fund. Donations can be made at any Regions Bank location, according to Moore, and proceeds will be used to help victims of violent crime.
“We want to help families in their time of need. So many of the victims are poor. Their families cannot afford funerals,” Moore said.
“There is power in unity and power in numbers. We will need many organizations to come together to stop this senseless, hideous crime. We are going to be proactive, not reactive.”
The fund will also be used to pay rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspects in violent crimes.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports that as of Wednesday there were 125 murders in the city. This compares to 130 in 2005.
Kansas City’s homicide total as of Wednesday for this year was 114, compared with 126 at the same time last year, Kansas City Police spokesman Tony Sanders said.
Moore said that 106 of the murder victims in the city were black males and 13 were black females. All of their names will be read Sunday at the service.
Pastor Elder Charlie Chatman will host the service, which is being held for the first time at Saints Fellowship Mission.
Dozens of elected officials and members of the community will gather to remember those whose lives were lost to violence.
“Now is the time we must come together,” said Moore.
“We have to take on this violence ourselves, and we are going to do it.”