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March for peace in northeast Las Vegas

Posted at 9:13 PM, May 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-22 00:32:50-04

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department marched the busy street of Nellis Boulevard on Saturday afternoon.

“The police are not just here to arrest people, they also care about them," said Victory Outreach Church Pastor Armando Garcia.

Police teamed up with Victory Outreach Church to organize the march. It was peace rally to address Las Vegas’ recent spike in violent crime.

The march lasted about 40 minutes. It started near Nellis Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue and ended on Nellis and Craig Road. Police say there have been more than 60 homicides this year, more than 50% of them are connected to gang violence, and most of the valley's recent incidents involve people younger than 30.

Now, religious leaders are coming forward with the hope that faith will spur change.

"We want to be able to come out and bring some hope and bring some answers to what's taking place," said Pastor Garcia.

We caught up with one peace-marcher, Eric. His brother was shot and killed in 2014.

"I was actually in the car,” he says. “After the shootout, I went out through the front and after that I ran.  Next thing I know, my brother is dead."

He says he's living proof that violence is not the answer.

"I came from doing nothing, being nothing, to being somebody, being a member of Victory Outreach."

After the march, officers and church members celebrated with food and entertainment.  This is Valley Outreach Church’s second peace rally this year.  Find out more at www.victoryoutreachsummerlin.org.