Stop the Violence honors NLR teen shot & killed

A church service dedicated to a North Little Rock teen shot and killed hopes to spread the message that innocent lives don't have to be lost.

The Stop the Violence special service held at Watson New Life Church in Sweet Home Sunday afternoon honored 17-year-old Jasmine Young, who was killed in a drive-by shooting January 30th.

Stop the Violence organizers say they hope other teens will look at what happened to Jasmine young and decide to turn their lives around before anyone else gets hurt in the crossfire.

Young's family and friends describe her as a happy, smiling, vibrant girl who had her whole life ahead of her. Police say Young was killed in a drive-by shooting at a Little Rock convenience store on Asher Avenue.

Walter Crockran with Stop the Violence says when he heard she was just an innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time it was really hard to digest. That's why Stop the Violence held a special Sunday service to honor Jasmine, and hopefully send a message to other teens that her death was unnecessary. "We want to focus on the positive and on change. We're trying to get the youth aware of coming together and not doing violent acts and solve situations in different ways."

Jasmine's Great Uncle Rodney Bolden says she had a bright personality. "She was an outgoing person,  kind, and very well liked in school and within the community." Bolden says Sunday's service isn't about her, but the other young people out there, to show them there is a better way. "Get this message; stop the violence, because once that bullet leaves the barrel of that gun, it's no return."

Bolden says hopefully other families won't be destroyed or have to suffer the way his family is grieving.  He says if even one young life is saved, then Jasmine's life was not taken in vain.

Bolden asks the community for continued prayers for his family to help them get through this difficult time.

Police had a person in custody for the murder of Jasmine Young, who has since been let go. It's unclear if any charges have been filed.

Young and another North Little Rock High School student, Sydney Blocker, were shot January 30th while sitting in the back seat of a white Chevy Tahoe at the Site store on Asher Avenue. Blocker and two men also in the Tahoe, 19- year-old Kyron Richardson, and 20-year-old James Burks IV all survived the shooting.