PARRAMORE, Fla. – Four teens were injured in a shooting at a Parramore restaurant Sunday afternoon, with one bullet narrowly missing an employee after passing through her hair bun.
Two days later, Sister Soul Food reopened its doors to a crowd of supporters who gathered for prayer and to show solidarity with the business and the neighborhood.
“We just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you and welcome back to Sister Soul Food,” said Brekencur Akins during the reopening.
The restaurant held a prayer service before resuming operations. Dejanya Whitehead shared well-wishes for the teens who were hurt.
[BELOW: 4 juveniles injured in shooting in Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood, police say]
“We send our prayers, we send our thoughts, we send our regards to the families of the boys who were injured here. We wish them nothing but the best and safe recovery,” Whitehead said.
During the prayer, Bishop Derrick McRae focused on unity and parental accountability.
“And I’m calling for all parents, let’s go back to accountability for our own children. Let’s know where our kids at least are so that we can be accountable for their locations,” McRae said.
According to employees, gunfire erupted Sunday, shattering three windows and a television inside the restaurant. A bullet pierced Akins’ hair bun, went through the TV and lodged into a wall.
“Auntie, they have a gun, and when I looked up the bullets were already flying — shot through the bun, went through the TV, into the wall,” Akins said.
Former Commissioner Regina Hill said the decision to reopen reflected the restaurant’s importance to the Parramore community.
“They thought about the gap that will be there if they didn’t reopen. Even though they experienced such a horrific event, they thought about, we gotta open these doors so people can eat. Because when you think about Sister Soul Food, it is truly a link to the community. You have people here that can’t afford nutritious foods,” Hill said.
Part of the shooting was captured on security camera video. Orlando police have not yet released the footage.