The Harrisburg chapter of Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence held a vigil Tuesday evening at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Harrisburg to remember the 10 people shot and killed in the Harrisburg area so far this year.

The vigil focused on the four people lost since Heeding God’s Call Harrisburg’s last quarterly vigil in April. The interfaith group, which seeks to end the illegal purchase and use of guns, has held more than 100 prayer vigils since 2009, a press release for the event said.

As she opened the vigil, Ann Van Dyke, Heeding God’s Call Harrisburg vice president, said the Harrisburg area has seen 132 people die from gunshot wounds since 2009.

“Let us remember those who we’ve lost,” Van Dyke said. “Let us pray for one another, for friends, family, and neighbors, and let us pray for the community’s children. And let us also act to stop gun violence that has taken these precious lives.”

This year, the following have died due to gun violence in or near Harrisburg: LaQuan Clark, of Harrisburg; Marvin Caddell, Nightflower Staats and Joe Staats Caddell, of Middletown; Tyrone Shaw, of Roselle Park, N.J.; Michael Evans-Turner, of Harrisburg; Alzerene Niree Pierce, of Harrisburg; Justin Allen Miller, of Harrisburg; Corey Crishon, of Harrisburg; and Jerron Edward Lewis, of Harrisburg.

Lewis, 27, was shot and killed the evening of July 10 at the 1600 block of Zarker Street. Police have not identified any suspects publicly.

Local worship leaders, activists and community members decried the violence that has shaken Harrisburg and the proliferation of illegal guns across the country, weaving messages of frustration and hope, mourning and resilience, into their speeches. Petitions demanding state legislators pass gun control legislation lined the back entrance of the church, with speakers urging attendees to sign the letters before they are sent off to legislators.

Zoya Hasan, a Cumberland Valley Middle School student, called for tighter restrictions on purchasing and selling guns.

“People should not be able to walk into a public place with firearms,” Hasan said. “It is not necessary. Guns are weapons, and people need to realize that they should not be available like candy.”

The Rev. Woody Dalton – the national board president of Heeding God’s Call and the senior pastor at Harrisburg’s Brethren in Christ Church – expressed support for the loved ones of those lost.

“We hope tonight you feel the Creator's presence,” he said. “We hope tonight you feel the love of God. We gather here to say, ‘something must be done.’ We must come together in love and prayer. And with our voices tried to put a stop to the senseless loss of life all around us and among us.”

The service also remembered Naed Smith, of Harrisburg, who according to the press release helped found the Heeding God’s Call’s chapter there. Smith, 52, committed suicide at home May 10.

According to his obituary, Smith lived in the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Worker House in Allison Hill and attended St. Francis of Assisi. A native of Wilkes-Barre, Smith was active in the Catholic peace movement, Pax Christi, for 22 years, according to his obituary.

Father Orlando Reyes of St. Francis of Assisi said he remembered Smith as someone who fought for “peace and common justice for all.”

Before leading the attendees in prayer, Reyes said of Smith, “I remember those days when he used to call that there was a problem around here and say, ‘Oh brother, get ready. Let’s go and chase the devil, and let’s go and pray.’ And I do desperately need my brothers and sisters.”