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Prayer vigil held for 10-year-old shot, killed

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A community is in turmoil after the killing of a 10 year old child.

DeShawn Swanson was killed Saturday night on the 3900 block of Graceland Avenue.

A payer vigil was held at the home Sunday afternoon.

“God, right now we’re calling up on a precious God that is able to do all things,” said Rev. Malachi Walker while praying with a crowd of children.

And there was a large group of friends and family members crying together and holding each other.

“He didn’t deserve this,” said Shyanne Morris, Swanson’s sister.

“Ten years old… what 10 year old deserves to be shot at?” said Channell Towns, Swanson’s aunt.

Swanson was known as “little man” by his family. He was one of his mother’s five children.

Family says Swanson was at the house attending a gathering for his best friend’s grandmother, who recently died, when the shooting took place.

“That’s his best friend’s grandmother and they were out here to show respect, and somebody just took my little brother,” said Morris, while sobbing.

Swanson was one of four people shot at the house Saturday night. No arrests have been made and police believe it may be a drive-by shooting.

“Whoever did this, please come forward,” said Morris.

“I never thought this would happen, I’ve seen it on the news several times with other families, I never knew it would hit our family like this. Its hard,” said Jennifer Morris, another one of Swanson’s aunts

“Every parent in this city ought to just be outraged at this,” said Rev Charles Harrison, who is now calling on a harder stance on illegal guns. “The city is bleeding now, people are dying now, children are dying now, so we have to do something that’s going to stop this bleeding to protect our babies.”

The prayer vigil will be followed up a community meeting Tuesday at 6pm. It will be held at the Tree of Life Ministries at 40th Street and Boulevard Place.

The other people who were shot are expected to make a full recovery.

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