Pastor, neighbors react to crime in East Phenix City

PHENIX CITY, AL (WTVM) - Phenix City police are investigating a shooting on Sunday, leaving a 5-year-old boy injured.

The mother of the child tells officers that the incident happened while she was taking her children out of her car near Riverview Apartments.

This latest shooting is leaving many with questions and wondering how to put an end to the violence.

"I often work a lot, but the times I am home, I don't really hear anything, it's a pretty nice neighborhood," said Erica Lowe who lives Riverview Apartment.

What Lowe describes as a relatively quiet neighborhood, interrupted by a shooting, leaving a 5-year-old injured.

Many neighbors say stray bullets and burglaries have recently been making Riverview Apartments in Phenix City home.

Located right in the middle of Riverview Apartments is a church with a special prayer for the apartments and the people living in them.

"We are all in this together, our neighborhood and our community is better off when everyone is better off," said Rev. R Steven Reneau.

Trinity United Methodist Church has been situated in the middle of the neighborhood for generations.

Pastor R. Steven Reneau says now is the time to reach out and be a positive force in the neighborhood in light of recent crimes.

"That's done person by person, block by block, and this is the neighborhood God has given Trinity to invest in," said Reneau.

Through outreach initiatives, community prayer and increased concern, Pastor R. Steven Reneau, says now is the time to reach out and be a positive force in the neighborhood in hopes to help make a positive impact.

"Our constant goal is to be here for the people that God created, and the slogan of United Methodist Church is open minds, open hearts, and open doors, and all are welcome," said Reneau.

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