Rainier Beach 'prayer walk' delivers response to shooting

Leaders of the Rainier Beach community had had enough.

A 19-year-old woman was shot and killed, a shooting occurred on the same street the next night, and a "person of interest" in the case was shot by police in California.

They were sad, confused and aching for peace. It was time to send a message.

About 40 people held a "prayer walk" Wednesday night through the neighborhood where Tanaya Gilbert was killed a week earlier. They marched 1.3 miles, held a moment of silence at the shooting scene and prayed at two churches.

"We want to make a statement that violence in this community is not the final word," said organizer the Rev. Jane Pauw, of Rainier Beach Presbyterian Church.

The procession began with a prayer at the church's "peace garden," which opened four years ago, after Rainier Beach resident James Paroline was fatally punched at a traffic circle where he was gardening.

Violence had once again brought neighbors together.

"We want to provide an opportunity for our community to stand in solidarity with those who were hurt," Pauw said.

As Pauw spoke, Rose Sanders, 11, rang a bell in the church's garden. "There was no specific reason for something like that to happen," Sanders said later on South 54th Street, near the murder site. "It was really sad and upsetting."

Sanders' mother, Donna Stefanik, a secretary at the church, said there was more outcry over the Paroline case. Paroline was white and his assailant black. The Gilbert case was probably different, she said, because of race. The victims and a "person of interest" all were black.

"We wanted to make sure that we value this young life as well," Stefanik said.

Gilbert, a former Renton High School student, was shot twice July 13 as she sat in a car with three friends. One of them was shot but survived. Two other people also were shot, but not fatally.

The next night, as a vigil was held in Gilbert's memory, shots were fired at a car as it left the ceremony. Police have arrested and charged a 17-year-old man in that case.

On Saturday, Kenneth Harding, whom police described as a person of interest in Gilbert's death, was shot and killed by San Francisco police after he allegedly failed to pay a transit fare and shot at police who pursued him.

"I was really outraged at the taking of Tanaya Gilbert's life," said Lena Williams, a Rainier Beach woman who said Gilbert's friends were afraid to leave home after her death. "We're telling the neighborhood it's safe."

The walk drew a mix of races, young and old. Participants walked to Rainier Beach Methodist Church and also to Kubota Garden, where they held prayers.

"This group really represents our neighborhood," Williams said. "All races, all ages."

She and others said Rainier Beach was a "great neighborhood," prized for its diversity, hidden views of Lake Washington and its parks.

"It has so much potential. It has amazing assets," said Yalonda Gill Masundire, chairwoman of the Rainier Beach Neighborhood Association.

The group grew out of regular "crime watch" activities after Paroline's death. Now it holds community garage sales and monthly events, she said.

"Ever since then, we've been communicating," she said. "It's been inspiring for neighbors to do more."

Jeff Hodson: 206-464-2109 or jhodson@seattletimes.com