Shooting of ‘good kid' in Melbourne prompts prayer revival

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Early Monday police in Melbourne responded to the intersection of Grant Street and University Boulevard to find a 13-year-old gunned down in the street.

“He’s just lying in the middle of the road, I don’t know if he’s hurt or whatever,” a 911 caller told a dispatcher. “I’m just leaving from a friend’s house and I see him in the middle of the road.”

Neighbors were outraged that someone so young could be shot so flippantly.

“Thirteen years old? He ain’t even got started yet,” resident Jerome Braddy said. “He’s got a long life ahead of him, man. I really feel bad for the parents.”

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The victim was not identified by police and no information was available on his condition or the extent of his injuries.

The Rev. Antwan Brown, of Faith Builders International Ministries, decided to set up a tent just feet from the shooting scene and hold a prayer revival for the community.

“We are praying and believing in God to change our neighborhood and changing this area,” Brown said. “A young man got shot literally in my backyard, and when I heard gunshots, I just woke up and immediately started praying.”

According to a family friend, the boy is a “good kid” who just moved into the area about seven months ago. They said the boy likes to play tag with his siblings and other children in the neighborhood.

Police believe someone in a dark-colored sedan was involved in the shooting.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Melbourne Police Department at 321-608-6731 or Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.

Cox Media Group