Lee-Marion Cain. (SOURCE: Twitter)
A prayer and calls for justice ringing out in the community after the death of an 8-year-old boy in a Dartmouth shooting.
An online prayer vigil was held Thursday night for Lee-Marion Cain with loved ones and church leaders honouring the child.
East Preston Baptist Church Pastor Matthew Thomas cautioned against the use of violence saying to trust in the police for justice.
Thomas says the community is angry, but he hopes justice and peace prevail over a desire to retaliate “an eye for an eye.”
“God, I pray specifically that you would just give our youth hope that this would actually be a catalyst moment where we see this young child’s life as a wake-up call to our community that we need to do better,” Thomas says.
Cain died in hospital Tuesday after being shot at in a vehicle on Windmill Road. His death has been ruled a homicide and police are searching for two suspects.
Thomas says now is the time for the community to resist violence.
“We need to have more care and consideration and compassion for one another,” Thomas says. “We need to take back our community against the gates of hell, an evil that tries to prevail against it.”
Meantime, social worker Robert Wright says counselling can help the community heal following the tragedy.
“You should not be afraid to reach out looking for help. We are your community,” Wright says. “You are our son, our daughter, our brother, our father, our cousin. We love you, and we know that your heart is tearing up. You can reach out for help and we will embrace you.”
He recommends connecting with the mental health support line set up for the African Nova Scotian community during the pandemic.
The number to call is 1-855-732-1253 ext. 2. You can leave a voicemail, and messages are set to be returned within 12 hours.
You can watch Thursday’s vigil below:
It was live-streamed by the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia.
