The community and those who've followed the McKenzie Elliott case from the beginning weighed in on Wednesday's news of an arrest in the case.
Father Joe Muth pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church said, "When the commissioner called me this morning to let me know because I was involved in writing letters to the editor and trying to keep McKenzie Elliott's name before the community... I can't say I felt happy, but I felt relieved."
Blessed Sacrament is just blocks from where Elliott was shot and killed in the crossfire of gang violence in 2014.
"It was heart wrenching," said Joyce Whitaker, a long time parishioner. "It was so sad. A 3-year-old, a baby. I mean I have 4 kids of my own and I have two grandkids."
Wednesday, the community and the city found closure after an arrest was made in the Elliott case. But the violence in the city has touched many others over the years--most never getting closure. Daphne Alston's son was killed 9 years ago. She runs MOMS, Mothers of Murdered Sons and Daughters United.
"I was really happy around 12 when it hit the news, but then I started getting phone calls from moms and they were like really upset like what's taking so long for my child's case? "
Muth says he wanted to give this innocent girl a voice
"It was an opportunity for us to rally the church behind this little girl and her family and talk about keeping her memory alive."
For now, this community can rest easier, but the plague of violence is hard to forget.
"We have got to say no to bad behavior in our communities, and we all know what's going on everybody knows but nobody don't want to talk about it," said Alston.
State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby weighed in saying:
“As a mother of two young girls and chief prosecutor for the City of Baltimore, I am not only pleased but relieved that the individual allegedly responsible for the heinous murder of McKenzie Elliott— a young, innocent 3-year-old—has been charged. I cannot imagine what McKenzie’s family has had to endure over these three very long years. My hope is that not only this family, but this community and the city at large, can begin to heal as the U.S. Attorney’s Office begins the judicial process and brings the alleged perpetrator to justice.”
