Hundreds of flowers were placed in Public Square Park on Friday night and each flower represents a life cut short by gun violence.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Hundreds of flowers were placed in Public Square Park on Friday night and each flower represents a life cut short by gun violence.
One recent Nashville victims was 18-year-old Yasser Paz. He was shot and killed outside a nightclub earlier this month. His family has held on to each other ever since.
News 2 spoke with his brother, John Vargas.
“I can’t imagine somebody hurting him, but it already happened,” Vargas said. “I guess my worst dreams did come true.”
The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said that Paz and his friends were leaving Bucanas Night Club on Nolensville Pike when a group of men pulled up in a car and shot at them. Paz was killed and the shooter got away.
“We don’t want anybody to feel the same pain we have,” Vargas said. “‘Cause it really hurts. It really hurts.”
His case is just the one of the latest in a ongoing trend in Nashville.
“The community’s got to support each other,” Vargas added. “Especially against gun violence in our city, which is increasing.”
On Friday night, the vigil at Public Square Park was meant to raise awareness about gun violence. White roses were put in the ground, with each rose representing a life lost.
Advocates like Clemmie Greenlee with Mothers Over Murder attended showed their support.
“Gun violence has gotten tremendously out of hand,” Greenlee said. “It’s been out of hand, but how much can we reduce this violence? We can get some of these guns off the street.”
Police to call them if you have any tips in Paz’s case.
“Violence is violence. Blood is red. We all bleed the same color,” Greenlee added.