Family, friends hold vigils for Sanford shooting victims

Group forms prayer circle hoping for recovery of 7-year-old

SANFORD, Fla. – Family and friends of a mother and son killed inside their Sanford home came together to pray for the surviving son Tuesday evening.

The group formed a prayer circle, hoping for the recovery of Brendon Christian, 7.

Branden Christian, 8, died from his injuries Tuesday morning. His mother, Latina Herring, was pronounced dead inside the home when police arrived Monday.

[RELATED: Family, friends try to process loss of 8-year-old in 'horrific' shooting]

Rochelle Davison, a close friend of the two boys' grandmother, Frances, told News 6 that Frances refuses to leave Brendon's side.

"She ain't leaving the hospital, so y'all please keep her in prayer because she is not going to leave there until at least they tell her other grandbaby is at least in stable condition," Davison said. "Something tragic like this and to deal with babies, that really just, it gets the best of me. I usually can be the one to stand up strong, but I get weak too. They say the strong get weak as well."

More than 25 miles away at the same time, family and friends also gathered outside Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital, where Brendon continues to recover.

Davison told News 6 that Brendon opened his eyes again Tuesday, but didn't offer any more updates on his condition.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help fundraise for Brendon Christian and his siblings. You can find more information, here.


About the Author:

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.