Christian leaders pray for victims, sheriff

About 100 Christian leaders from Broward County gathered at a Pompano Beach church Thursday to pray for the 17 victims of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as well as for Broward Sheriff Scott Israel, who a clergyman said is under attack.

Israel briefly attended the morning service at Word of the Living God Ministry, an organizer said, but did not appear before reporters who received a news release about it, apparently from the church.

Broward Sheriff’s spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright said in an email that “it wasn’t a media event or a BSO event. He made his remarks to the people who attended the private prayer service. He thanked the clergy and people from the community for their prayers for the families.”

Israel meets with clergy every month, according to the spokeswoman.

“He said Parkland needs prayer like never before,” Coleman-Wright said.

The church, at 140 NW 26th Ave., is led by Apostle John Mohorne Jr., who since 2013 has been an associate chaplain for the Sheriff’s Office. Mohorne also declined to speak

with reporters.

“In light of the recent tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School and the overwhelming concern as it relates to Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, the community will come together to show our support of his continued efforts to build strong relationships of mutual trust by being transparent, accountable and visible,” the news release said.

State representatives have called for Israel to be fired or suspended after he said one of his deputies did

not enter the school to stop Nikolas Cruz, who is accused of firing an AR-15 rifle at former schoolmates and teachers.

The deputy resigned and Gov. Rick Scott ordered the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the massacre, a probe that could take six months or more.

The service included five different prayers: For Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and its students; for the families who lost loved ones, for Israel and for the Sheriff ’s Office. A choir of children sang “Lean on Me,” organizers said.

Blaming government officials

at the local, state and federal levels for failing to stop Cruz before the mass shooting happened may be the wrong things to focus on, said Rev. Anthony Burrell, who spoke on behalf of the clergy.

“I think what we’re doing is we’re missing the whole idea, that is this is an issue about guns,” Burrell said. “It’s about guns. It’s something that we don’t want to deal with. But I am heartened personally by the actions of the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas because I think they’re beginning to call attention to an issue that has gone under the radar.”

He said Israel “has the

support of people today, from Parkland to Pembroke Pines, from Hillsboro to Hallandale and all points in between.”

Burrell also thanked retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods, which announced Wednesday it would no longer sell assault rifles, and other companies that have changed their agreements or canceled discounts for members of the National Rifle Association.

“We are grateful that they are doing what our elected officials have failed to do,” Burrell said.