Dallas

Fort Worth Groups Join Efforts to Remember Shavon Randle

The kidnapping and death of Shavon Randle, 13, is still being felt across the Metroplex. The teen girl was discovered dead in an abandoned South Oak Cliff home early Sunday.

She is believed to be an innocent victim in a dispute over drugs.

Fort Worth community groups, DFW Ryderz Car Club and GANG Banging For Christ are hosting a vigil to support Randle's family and take a hard stand against the violence.

"What happened in Dallas should never have happened to that baby," Felton Jenkins said. "It's time to stop talking and put [work] into actions."

The groups are putting the talk aside and pushing for change.

"Even though it happened in Dallas, it still hurts our community because it's a 13-year-old baby," Cliff Sparks said.

"It's not only about that baby. It's about all the babies we lost this year to the violence in our streets," Jenkins added.

They expect a large turnout for the vigil in Wilbarger Park and they hope communities finally start listening.

"If you're not paying attention to what you're doing in your life right now, now's the time," Sparks said. "What happened is a wake-up call to all the young kids and the community."

They said that for many, Randle's death hits home in a very difficult way.

"I'm kind of holding it in, but it hurt me because it could have been my kids," Sparks said.

"If they don't have a heart, they are going to have one now," Jenkins said. "They are going to realize, 'That can be me.'"

They will continue to pray, but said it's time for some tough love in communities.

"Turn your life around and get right with Jesus, [but] first you got to get right with yourself," Sparks said.

They call it a reminder that those who pay the consequences from drugs, crime and violence are sometimes the innocent.

"What if it would have been my daughter that got kidnapped and got killed? What if it was my son that got kidnapped and killed behind something a loved one had done?" Jenkins said.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet determined a cause or manner of death for Shavon Randle.

Michael Titus, 19, whose body was also found Sunday in the same abandoned house, died from homicide due to a gunshot wound to the head, officials said.

Five people remain jailed on a variety of charges in connection with Randle's kidnapping, but there have not been any charges filed in her death.

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