Family Members, Community Gather To Remember Slain Victims In Chester Shooting

Vigil Held For Victims In Chester Shooting

April 10, 2011 10:10 AM

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A candle light vigil was held in Chester Saturday for a Chester high school senior who had his life cut tragically short, when he was shot and killed at a party being held in a Chester rental hall.

Emotions ran high as friends, family, and community leaders gathered at the site of Friday’s shooting, to pay homage to Robel Laboy, and to urge the community to come together.

“This needs to stop. This doesn’t need to fester on, where we’re going to another one after another one after another one; we won’t do this through the summer like we did last summer. We don’t need to go through this.”

Chester police Chief Darren Alston said the best way to prevent future tragedies, is for parents to get involved.

“If my child is going to these kinds of events, and I don’t know who’s running the event, or who’s going to be there, then yeah, I need to be there chaperoning or making sure it’s a safe place for my child.”

Watch Video…

Police said nine people were transported to Crozer Chester Medical Center, where a spokesman said one died soon afterward and another died Saturday afternoon (see related story). Four other victims remained in stable condition, and three had been discharged, the spokesman said. A 10th person was treated at Taylor Hospital and was released.

Reported By Dan Wing, KYW Newsradio; Jericka Duncan, CBS 3.

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Vigil Held For Victims In Chester Shooting

Isabel

When tomorrow starts without me
And I’m not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today;
While thinking of the many things
We didn’t get to say.

I know how much you love me
As much as I love you;
And each time that you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand.

She said my place was ready
In heaven far above;
And that I’d have to leave behind,
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye;
For all my life, I’d always thought
I didn’t want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much yet to do;
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad;
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday
Just even for awhile,
I’d say goodbye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized
That this could never be;
For emptiness and memories
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss come tomorrow;
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven’s gates
I felt so much at home;
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne.

He said, “This is eternity
And all I’ve promised you;
Today your life on earth is past,
But here it all starts anew.”
“I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last;
And since each day’s the same day,
There’s no longing for the past.”
“But you have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true;
Though at times you did do things,
You knew you shouldn’t do.”
“But you have been forgiven
And now at last you’re free;
So won’t you take my hand
And share my life with me?”

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don’t think we’re far apart
For every time you think of me,
I’m right here in your heart.
Isabel

R.I.P to my little Cousin Robel Laboy.

Although we never met for whatever reason, You were always in my heart, NOW MORE THAN EVER.
Too young and too soon my young Love.

Thoughts and prayers with you family at this sad time.

Isabel (London)
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/04/10/three-suspects-arrested-in-relation-to-chester-shooting/ Three Suspects Nabbed In Relation To Chester Shoting Massacre « CBS Philly

[...] Neighbors and community leaders held a candlelight vigil at the scene Saturday night (see related story). [...]
Kevin Allen

There is never a referrence to the fact that almost all of the shootings and violent crimes in and around Philadelphia are done by young Black men. This is not a racial observation and not ment to be one. It is just a fact. Our papers and TV are full of the same news involving violent specifically Black attackers each day. This needs to be addressed by the comunity from where it originates because it is not something that can be related to by everyone else except to react with suspicion and generall fear and avoidance weather at the guilty or the innocent of that race. It creates a very poor image of all Blacks and most are undeserving.

True, but not new.

I do think many people are aware of the prevalence of violence in urban, black communities. I don’t think it’s a big secret, but yes, it does need to be addressed. If I’m not mistaken, there was recently a public event held in Philly, with the mayor, on that very topic?

I think you let people off the hook too easily, though, when you say, well, most people can’t relate except to react with suspicion (i.e. racism). We actually can do better than that. I’m Caucasian, and I’m able to think about the fact that there must be a cause or causes other than some genetic predisposition. I’m one of those people who thinks there is usually a logical explanation to everything.

While I won’t try to throw out a sociological theory on this comment page right now, I do think that entrenched poverty plays a large role. That’s not just poverty in itself but the myriad, entangled issues that stem from it.

I know what you’re saying – that the black community has to play a role in solving the problem – and they are trying. But it’s not a problem that exists solely within their community; the black community is PART of our society, and the problem is societal and systemic. So we all have to participate.

It is not true that all, or even most, white people are stupid and reactionary and cannot understand except to explain it with racism. We can understand, if we choose to try.