RICHMOND, Va. -- People across Central Virginia donned orange Thursday to raise awareness about Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Crystal Dowd said her sister's senseless murder is overwhelming at times.
Chantel Norville was shot to death on Richmond’s Southside two months ago.
She feels the pain most acutely when she looks into the faces of her three nieces.
“This was a senseless act of violence for no reason,” Dowd said. “Once a bullet is released from the chamber and they're gone, you can't get them back.”
Norville’s mother, Roberta Carter, said she also grapples with her daughter’s murder, but tries to put on a brave face for her grandchildren.
“I give all the glory to God that she did not suffer,” Carter said. “But I do want the person who did this to be captured.”
The family is glad to know millions of Americans are standing against crime on this National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Supporters wore orange because the color symbolizes the value of life and gun safety.
Gun rights advocate Phillip Van Cleave said it is also important for him to share this message.
“To focus on guns is to diminish the importance of violence,” Van Cleave said. “Why are people killing each other? Does it matter if they're stabbed to death or shot? Somehow, people want to focus on something that's not the heart of it. The heart of it is a person that would think to kill another person. Why do we have people doing that?”
Norville’s family continues to pray someone will provide a tip that will lead police to her killer so justice can be served.
Virginia's Executive Mansion will also be illuminated in orange Thursday night in support of the initiative.
