ORLANDO, Fla. — After the deadly shootings in Pine Hills on Feb. 22 which killed three, many people, including many Central Florida community leaders, are calling for change.

An Orlando pastor said the community must become more unified to come up with solutions to effectively prevent gun violence.

What You Need To Know

  • After the deadly shootings in Pine Hills on February 22, many people – including many Central Florida community leaders – are calling for change

  • An Orlando pastor said the community must become more unified to come up with solutions to effectively prevent gun violence

  • Pastor Stovall has spent much of his life working with people to turn their lives around, and continues much of that work with his church, God Is Able Outreach. 

  • Stovall's daughter was killed and his grandson injured in gun violence in the last few years

Pastor Stovelleo Stovall says his efforts to prevent violence in the community were strengthened after his family became victims of gun violence firsthand.

Stovall has spent much of his life working with people to turn their lives around, and continues much of that work with his church, God Is Able Outreach. 

“This is my mission. This is my mission to save souls and to get this city back to The City Beautiful,” Stovall said.

Three years ago, his mission to prevent gun violence hit home when his daughter was shot to death. There still have been no arrests in that case.

“I had been there for so many other people, and for it to be me now,” said Stovall. “I had everybody in my arms, and it was just heartbreaking.”

And this past November, his grandson was hit by gunfire outside a football game at Jones High School. Stovall says that violence hitting his family directly has helped him connect even more with others. And not just victims. He often goes to the jail and tries to help those who’ve already found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

“I can relate with them and they open up, and I’ve got a lot of people that do that right here in the city of Orlando,” Stovall said. “And things can be said and it will spread like wildfire, and the first thing the young people say is y’all can’t get along.”

Stovall says if the community wants to develop solutions to really prevent gun violence, community leaders must be united. He says he doesn’t always feel like he’s welcome or at the table with other pastors, community and city leaders when they are trying to come up with solutions. But he says if the community is going to really prevent violence, they need everyone, including him, as part of the solution.

“I can go and people are going to talk to me, and I know I’m part of the puzzle and that’s all,” he said. “That’s what it’s going to take - we’ve got to put the puzzle together.”

He said one potential solution to curb gun violence is to give young men in the community more training for specialized work, as well as job opportunities, so they will have ways to support themselves financially and stay out of trouble.