Modesto vigil set in response to national violence

A vigil is set in Modesto Friday evening in response to shootings nationally that have left seven people dead in three days.

In Dallas on Thursday, five police officers were fatally shot in a planned attack during a protest over the killing of black men by white police officers in Louisiana and Minnesota. Seven other officers and two bystanders were wounded.

Davis Park Church of Christ pastor Buddy Gray said he wanted to promote “a time of prayer for peace in the United States in light of the violence that’s happened over the past three days.”

Gray said he started calling all his contacts Friday morning, inviting people to come and share in the event. Those he invited include religious members, leaders of the black community and law enforcement officials. The vigil also is open to the public.

“We’re not taking sides,” he said. “We just think everybody needs to stop and take a breath ... it just hurts my heart.”

The vigil is set for 7 p.m. at the Davis Park Church of Christ, 901 N. Rumble Road, Modesto.

This story was originally published July 8, 2016 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Modesto vigil set in response to national violence."