JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Neighbors held an anti-violence rally on Saturday in Jacksonville near where a school bus full of children was caught in the crossfire of a shooting on Monday.
No one was injured and police have since arrested the suspects responsible for the incident, but neighbors say knowing that innocent lives were put in danger moved them to speak up.
“People need to hear our voice, when things like this happen, that’s when it puts a spark back in my life," Shanda Whitaker-Ward, the founder of the Tiphne Darshay Hollis Foundation, said.
The incident happened near an apartment complex in Jacksonville's Hogans Creek area when a bus carrying 30 children was struck by gunfire.
While no one was hurt, the thought that an innocent life could have been lost reminded Whitaker-Ward of when her 16-year-old daughter, Tiphne Darshay Hollis, was taken due to senseless violence 14 years ago. Hollis was in a car with friends in March 2010, when the shots were fired. Her family believes it was a case of mistaken identity.
“Someone just shooting and a bullet ricocheted into the car and hit my daughter in the stomach. Case still unsolved," Whitaker-Ward, said.
She created the Tiphne Darshay Hollis (TDH) Foundation after her daughter's death to bring attention to anti-violence initiatives.
“We need the violence to stop, and like she said, she started the organization 13 years ago. The foundation was built on being an advocate for the victims of senseless killings," said Meltonia Wright, a foundation member.
“Just trying to live Tiphne’s legacy with the Tiphne Dar’shay Hollis foundation. I believe in brining m ore programs into schools, into the community to keep the kids off the streets, and just fighting for what’s right," Whitaker-Ward, said.
Carole Houston, the woman who was driving the bus when the shooting happened, was also at Saturday's event.
Houston said the window on the bus has been replaced, but she still has flashbacks every time she gets behind the wheel.
“The first day, it kinda got to me. It’s getting better with time, I had to stop and Wosah before I came in, you know, every day gets easier. But in order for it to change it has to start with us," Houston said.
The Tiphne Darshay Hollis Foundation is planning more community events to advocate against violence in the community.