Counseling available after Terryville shootings

PLYMOUTH — More than 250 people virtually gathered on Sunday for an hour of music, prayer, scripture and a vigil for a 15-year-old shot dead in a Plymouth home last week

Hosted by the Prayers for Plymouth organization via Facebook live from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., the five local clergy members and community leaders taking part in the vigil in-person said they hoped the service would offer a sense of community through a difficult time.

“I don’t have the words for something like this,” said Rev. Zachary Mabe of the Terryville Congressional Church.

“We don’t know all of the circumstances in this situation, but we do know that sometimes people reach a breaking point,” said Denise Clapsaddle, pastor of First Congregational Church of Plymouth.

State Police said Naomi Bell, 43, shot and killed a 15-year-old girl and wounded a 7-year-old boy in a house on North Main Street Friday night. Police have not revealed the relationship between Bell and the two children.

In an email Saturday, interim Superintendent of Schools Sherri Turner said a Terryville High School student was killed and a younger sibling, a student at Fisher School, was wounded. Turner said a third sibling, who is a student at Eli Terry Jr. Middle School, was not home at the time of the incident.

Bell was charged with murder under special circumstances and criminal attempt to commit murder with special circumstances. Her bond was set at $2.5 million.

“We lift up the Bell

family,” Mabe said during Sunday’s vigil. “We lift up our town’s first responders. We lift up our town’s schools. And we lift all of us up to God.”

Denise Clapsaddle, pastor of First Congregational Church of Plymouth, told residents there are still many unanswered questions, told those attending the vigil she wished she had answers for them about what happened.

“I don’t have all the answers … I don’t even have all of the questions,” she said. “But I do know that in times like this, what’s called for is compassion.”

She urged vigil attendees to focus their energy and outreach on the victims and survivors.

The comments section of the live was flooded with messages from members of the community offering prayers for all those impacted, including wishes for a speedy recovery for the 7-year-old.

“Take this time to reflect on those around you. Offer a hand. ... Offer a shoulder. … Offer words of strength and encouragement,” wrote one commenter, Stacey Lanz Milliken. “Be kind. Be the light someone may need.”

Milliken also urged parents and guardians to check in with their children.

“They are hurting too. These were their friends ... They feel this too,” Milliken wrote. “Don’t be afraid to speak with them.”

Counselors were at Terry Middle School from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Counselors, school psychologists, and social workers will also be available to provide support for students and staff when school reopens Monday.

“We also understand that students will have varying levels of connectedness to the student and family as well as different levels of awareness regarding the incident,” Fisher School Principal Kim Loveland wrote in an email to parents, promising the school psychologist and counselor would be available throughout the day.

When classes resume, students may ask teachers if they may visit the counselor or psychologist, she wrote.

“We will not be providing any information to students regarding the incident nor will we be addressing classrooms generally,” Loveland wrote. “It is important we respect parents’ choices in regards to how much information, if any, they want their child to know.”

Terryville High School is closed for in-person classes until Nov. 30, according the the district’s website.

Turner wrote that she is unable to identify those involved, pending the release of more information by the police.

“We are devastated by this unthinkable tragedy, and are comforted in knowing that we are part of an amazing community that will pull together to support each other through this difficult time,” Turner wrote. “Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Bell