A minster's wife, who was shot inside her home on Tuesday, hopes something positive may come from what happened to her.
Laretha Smith has been married to Reverend James Smith for more than 30 years. She credits her faith for saving her life when a bullet came flying through her living room window and struck her in the head.
Smith says what happened to her is proof the city needs a youth center now more than ever. She says, "I do feel that it happens for a reason. I really do believe that."
She says it's a sign that God wants her to renew her commitment to helping kids, like her 16-year-old neighbor who is behind bars, accused of shooting her. "I wonder how does it feel almost taking a person's life like that? If he hasn't already. I would like to think that he hasn't. And that this will be a wake up call for him."
The Smiths have been working through the Christian Minister's Alliance to build a youth center at the corner of Apache and North Lewis for more than 2 years.
Rev. Smith says, "We spend too much time meeting and talking about what we need to do, instead of putting some effort in and going out and trying to do it."
Rev. W.R. Casey is President of the Alliance. He says the "Save Our Kids" Youth Center would provide services such as: daycare, after school programs, mentoring and continuing education for parents. The Alliance has bought most of the property, but still lacks $7.3 million dollars to build it. He says, "The economy is not good at this time. But I believe the money is still there."
Laretha Smith hopes what happened to her will prove just how badly the Youth Center is needed to help keep the children of North Tulsa out of gangs, and encourage them to stay in school. She tells 2NEWS, "I would like to see that center hurry up and get built. Because I believe it will be a success. And it will overflow with young people."
Four teenagers are in jail for the shooting that injured Smith, as well as another innocent man on Monday at the Seminole Hills Apartments.
Police say the teen who shot Smith was the intended target of Monday's shooting. Still no word if the bullet that was fired into Smith's home was accidental or intentional.
If you want to make a donation to help build the "Save Our Kids" Youth Center, mail your contribution to: The Christian Minster's Alliance, Inc. P.O. Box 2096, Tulsa, OK, 74101.
Rev. W.R. Casey can be reached by calling 918-951-7407.
