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Friends Of Drive-By Victim Push To End Violence

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On Sunday, a vigil was held to remember a young woman who was gunned down last week.

Last Monday, Tomika Swoope was walking back to her home near 32nd and Columbus Avenue when gun shots rang out. She was hit in the head by a bullet and died Thursday from her injuries.

To honor Swoope and call an end to violence, family and friends gathered at the corner where the shooting happened to lay flowers, cards and balloons.

It's time to take our neighborhoods back from violence.

People stood holding hands and praying for peace

Jenny Kraft, Swoope's fifth grade teacher, was in the crowd during the vigil and talked about the lady with big dreams and whose life was taken too soon.

Kraft was also the teacher of Tyesha Edwards back in 2002 when she was shot and killed doing homework inside her home that isn't too far from where Swoope's was shot.

"It was like a flashback because the Monday morning after Tyesha died I didn't want to go back to school," recalled Kraft. "And Wednesday morning after I knew, I didn't want to go back to school either and I'm still teaching fifth grade and I know I have to keep going and keep doing what I can for the kids and our neighborhoods and being more than just a teacher."

Police haven't release much information about Swoope's shooting. They haven't commented on whether this is gang-related and they have no suspects in custody.

Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call the TIPS Line at 612-692-8477.

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