"Everyone I know is afraid:" Group gathers to pray for Milwaukee after 8 shootings this week

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It has been a violent few days in Milwaukee, as we have seen eight shooting incidents (plus a fatal stabbing and a fatal battery incident) since Sunday, April 12th -- and this violence has come on the heels of an especially violent Easter weekend, where we saw seven shooting incidents -- five of them occurring within a two-hour period. This week in Milwaukee, eight people have lost their lives in connection with violent incidents. But at a time when so much is going wrong in the city, there are also people fighting to make it safer.

Coming together on Tuesday evening, April 14th -- just blocks away from the scene of a fatal shooting that occurred Monday night, was a group of people hoping for divine intervention.

39th and hampton prayer rally

"I'm just a man who cares about my city," Tyronzo Carter with Greater New Birth Church said.

"Help us make a difference in this city," Anthony Oliphant with Abided Faith Fellowship Church said.

Clasping hands near 39th and Hampton on Tuesday evening, these folks say they believe change starts on the streets of Milwaukee.

"Our hearts are just burdened by everything that has been going on in our city," Carter said.

They say they are trusting in the power of prayer.

"We've tried everything else. I mean, we need prayer. We need God," Oliphant said.

"We pray to our God and hope that change will happen," Carter said.

This week's violence began Sunday evening, April 12th near 48th and Glendale. There, 40-year-old Archie Brown was driving his van shortly after 5:00 p.m. when two-year-old Damani Terry darted into the street. Brown hit Terry, and Terry died. Witnesses say Brown exited his van distraught and crying -- heading towards the child to try to help him. That's when Brown was shot and killed. Police say Terry's brother, 15-year-old Rasheed Chiles was also shot. He died at the hospital during surgery.

No one is in custody -- but police say they know who they are looking for.

On Sunday night, around 8:00 p.m., 22-year-old Willie Woods was shot and killed in the 8900 block of N. Swan Road. Police have arrested a 45-year-old Milwaukee man in that case.

On Monday night, police were called out to two shooting scenes within about a 15-minute period.

First, they were dispatched to the 4800 block of W. Center Street where they found a 27-year-old man shot following a robbery. He was expected to survive.

Then, police were called out to Hopkins and Stark for a triple shooting. There, they found 17-year-old Shanice McClain dead, and a 25-year-old man and 26-year-old man injured as a result of gunfire. Police say it happened as a result of an argument between two girls, and no one is in custody.

Overnight Monday into Tuesday, police were called out to the area of 21st and Hampton for a report of shots fired. There is no word on victims and arrests in this case.

On Tuesday morning, police were dispatched to 13th and Locust, where they found a 24-year-old Milwaukee man fatally stabbed by a 30-year-old woman. That woman was taken into custody.

At Sherman and Locust Tuesday, as police were responding to a shots fired call, cars began to flee the scene and an officer and a man standing by a bus stop were hit by vehicles. Police are investigating whether the officer was hit by his own squad.

On Tuesday afternoon, police were on the scene of another homicide. There, 18-year-old Michael Powell was found dead inside a home. No one is in custody.

On Tuesday night, police say a 63-year-old man died as a result of a battery incident near 9th and Clarke. This was Milwaukee's third homicide Tuesday.

Late Tuesday night, a four-year-old child was shot as she was playing in the living room of a home near 67th and Capitol Drive. Police say unknown subject(s) fired 13 rounds into the home. The child was taken to the hospital for treatment. She is expected to fully recover. No one is in custody.

"My children are afraid.  Everyone I know is afraid.  My parents are afraid.  I'm almost afraid, but I don't fear because I do have faith that God will work it out," Oliphant said.

Instead of fleeing the city, those who gathered to remember the lives lost to violence in Milwaukee say they want to work to change Milwaukee -- one street corner at a time.

"We just want to make sure that something positive is happening on the Earth at this point," Carter said.