War Cry 4 Peace prayer vigil for Lezarius Graham

A prayer vigil and circle were held Thursday, June 15, in northwest Ocala for 17-year-old Lezarius Amirre “Lee” Graham who was found deceased with a gunshot wound in northwest Ocala on June 7. Graham’s 18th birthday would’ve been June 22.

“We’re here to support Lee’s family. There’s no words but God has the words,” said Kimberly Wilkerson of War Cry 4 Peace, a local anti-gun violence group that organized the vigil.

Several speakers addressed the family.

“I know you’re in pain,” said Areshia Johnson, who later added, “justice shall prevail.”

A speaker who knew Graham called him “a good young man” and a clergyman who had met the family said, “God saw what happened …the battle belongs to God.”

Graham’s family members, including his maternal grandmother, brother and his mother, Sakemia Jones, sat in the front of the church, clearly overcome with emotion.

Kimble Jones, Graham’s grandmother, said during the prayer circle that Graham was “sweet, mannerly and funny.”

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Graham’s body was found and reported at 7:12 p.m. on June 7 by a lawn maintenance worker in a wooded area near an apartment in the 2100 block of NW 43rd St. In an updated Facebook post on June 16, MCSO stated the homicide evidently occurred June 6.

“Through the investigation thus far, the detectives have determined that Lezarius was likely murdered on June 6, 2023, near the area in which his body was discovered. They also confirmed that he died as the result of a gunshot wound,” the post stated. “At this time, a suspect has not been identified, but detectives continue to follow up on all investigative leads.”

The Sheriff’s Office has asked that anyone who saw suspicious activity in that area between Monday, June 5, and Wednesday, June 7, call and talk to them.

Shanna Jennings works with Marion County Acceleration Academies, a web and in-person learning center for students aged 14-20, located in the Cascades Center. She is Graham’s cousin, and knew him as a student at the institution.

“To know Lee was to love him. He was very outgoing and had a great impact on everyone here. Lee had a career goal of joining the military, either the Navy or Air Force,” Jennings said. “Lee was very smart, always scored 90 to 100% on tests, and could discuss the spiritual, financial, anything in life.”

Jennings said she hopes evidence in the case will lead to an arrest and conviction and “give us justice.”

Members of War Cry 4 Peace offered memories and prayers, and a moving prayer service to close the indoor portion of the vigil, which saw the assembly stand up and come forward to surround and embrace the family.

About 200 people including family and friends, and several clergy members, gathered at the Church of Christ at 514 S.W. 27th Ave. in Ocala for the evening vigil. The Rev. Charles Larry, pastor of the Church of Christ, told the assembly, “Jesus is the answer” and decried how “young black men (are) being gunned down.” Larry spoke of taking a stand.

Following prayers and the sharing of memories inside the church, the group moved outdoors for a candlelight prayer circle, with the immediate family in the center, and a balloon release. Some 20 members of War Cry 4 Peace assisted with the vigil and prayed and comforted the family.

Thursday’s vigil was the second this year for War Cry 4 Peace. The first followed a shooting in northwest Ocala on New Year’s Day that claimed two lives. Wilkerson said War Cry 4 Peace, founded in 2014, focuses on supporting families and loved ones of gun violence victims but their “hearts go out” to all people effected in tragedies caused by acts of gun violence.

Bishop J. David Stockton, III, president of the Marion County Chapter of the NAACP, said the large turnout at the vigil reflected “there’s work to do” by church and governmental leaders. He remarked on the “brilliant minds” of the youth.

Anyone with information about the death of Lezarius Graham is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368- STOP (7867) and reference 23-33 in the tip.