Community meetings planned to put east-end Ottawa violence 'on front burner'

Coun. Tim Tierney left a meeting with Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau with the promise of a "leaders meeting" within a week to discuss crime in his ward following the latest homicide on Jasmine Crescent.

"The chance of a bullet flying is a concern, so we want to make sure that people know that we are looking at this and that it's on the front burner," Tierneysaid.

• Nooredin Hassan shot onJasmine Crescent

NooredinHassan, 20,was fatally shot whilewalking along Jasmine Crescent nearOgilvieRoadjust before6:30 p.m.on Tuesday.His death marks Ottawa's fifth homicide of 2016, and the third killing on Jasmine Crescentin less than a year.

Tierneysaid Thursday thathewillsit down with religious leaders, school principals andcoaches to discuss concerns in a closed meeting ahead of a larger community meeting with Bordeleau, tobe held within a month.

The chance of a bullet flying is a concern.- Coun. TimTierney

"The Ottawa Police Service feels very much the same way I do: there's concern in our community," Tierney said.

Vigil promotes 'love over violence'

Earlier on Thursday,Tierneytook part in avigilon the same corner whereHassanwas shot.

LesWoolsey, an elder at Pine Grove Bible Church located just a few blocks from the site of the shooting, led theLord's Prayer during the vigil.

"We just felt that we needed to pray for the people who were affected by it, for the family of the young man who died, and for the community for renewal of the community and for troubled people here," Woolseysaid.

"If you care for people, you want to be praying for them. It's upsetting, it's emotional because you know people are hurting."

Wesley Moore, another church member, said the vigil was meant to"change the channel" on the recent violence.

"This is not about despair. This is not about violence. It's about love over violence,"Moore said.