The nonprofit Jacksonville organization Families of Slain Children provides services to families impacted by homicide in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.
Its next mission is geared toward the family that lost its 7-year-old daughter in a shooting over the weekend.
STORY: Father of 7-year-old shot, killed says he wants justice for his daughter
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has asked for the community's help identifying the persons of interests seen in surveillance video at the time of the incident.
“Bullets don’t have anybody’s names on them,” Jacksonville resident James Wayne Axson said. “Sometimes someone gets sprayed that has nothing to do with this matter. So it’s a fatal disaster.”
Laronia Carter told Action News Jax her son was also shot and killed in her front yard two days before Christmas in 2012.
“My heart really goes out to her and her parents, because it’s hard,” Carter said.
Carter is now a member of the FOSCI to help other families.
“It’s been five years, almost six years for me and it’s still, I’m feeling their pain as if it happened yesterday,” she said.
Carter said the organization gave her support, grief counseling and a community to share her story. They also help with food, clothing and other basic necessities if needed.
“It’s a comfort,” Carter said. “It doesn’t take away the pain but it helps compress the pain. Any time you can get a breather, it helps.”