More than 250 people gathered in the Parkway Homes neighborhood of Greenburgh on Saturday night for a candlelight vigil in memory of three residents killed there two days earlier in an apparent murder suicide – and to support the youngest member of the family who was at school when the tragedy occurred.
The victims, Robert Watson, 76, his daughter, Cherika Johnson, 50, and her son, Jaden, 23, were found in the home Thursday, April 30, when police conducted a welfare check. They were members of First Community Baptist Church up the block from their Parkway Homes Road home. Their pastor of more than 40 years, the Rev. Tyrone Robinson, led the vigil and said going forward the most important thing the community can do is help teenager Jordan Johnson – who Robinson called “my spiritual son” – after the loss of his brother, mother and grandfather.
He told The Journal News/lohud Friday about the integral role Watson played in the church for years, as a deacon and Christian Education director.
“We are all in pain,” Robinson told the crowd Saturday night. “There is medicine in a hug. We’re going to need a whole lot of hugs in the next few weeks to help us get through.”
Friends of Jaden’s wore T-shirts with his picture and there were fellow Boy Scouts from Jordan’s Troop 1 Valhalla supporting him. He recently reached the rank of Star Scout – with two levels to go before he becomes an Eagle Scout.
Robinson said it was incumbent on everyone in the crowd to recognize situations when their neighbors might need help.
“We cannot watch people struggle and not offer assistance,” he said. “If you don’t know what to do, find somebody who can help … I will get you help if I can’t help you. We are here for one another. When somebody is struggling we should love them back into submission not criticize them for not doing what we think they ought to be doing.”
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Greenburgh community hosts vigil in memory of residents killed
Reporting by Jonathan Bandler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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