Vigil Sunday in Pomona supports family of slain teen

POMONA - Ministers and community members will gather in the 2200 block
of Virginia Avenue at 4 p.m. Sunday for a vigil in support of the
family and neighborhood in which an 18-year-old Diamond Bar man was
killed recently.

Although ministers moved away from organizing vigils in the recent
past, this one is being called due to concerns among some members of
the community that racial or gang violence may have played a part in
the killing, said Rev. Rick DeBruyne, pastor of Lincoln Avenue
Community Church.

Pomona police have said it did not appear race played a part in the
incident.

Marquis Leblanc was killed late April 17 in the 2200 block of
Virginia Avenue after attending a party in the area that attracted
about 200 guests.

DeBruyne said he along with other ministers and community members
will try to raise the awareness of faith-based groups and residents
to become involved the various efforts in the city to improve the
city and invite then to join Neighborhood Watch groups as a way to
work together to prevent crime and other problems in their areas.

Participants will also call on the Pomona Unified School District to
take a human relations program that exists at Pomona High
and replicate it around the district.

Pomona High has the Campus Action Team, or the CATeam, through which
students continuously work to improve human relations among students.

The program, which includes the participation of representatives from
the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, has students
working with their peers to enlighten them about the negative effects
of bullying, stereotyping, racism, sexual harassment and homophobia.

Another concern of those who will participate in the vigil is that
many of the city's homicides have had connections to parties,
especially ones that drew large crowds, DeBruyne said.

Other cities around the state have addressed such activities with
local legislation and Pomona should take time to taking similar
steps, he said.