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Baltimore Honors Victims Of Orlando Massacre

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The world is still reeling after the devastating attacks in Orlando. A church in Baltimore held a vigil Tuesday to remember the victims and pray for survivors.

Ava-joye Burnett has more on the pain that total strangers are feeling.

Instead of their weekly bible study, the Empowerment Temple held a prayer vigil for victims hundreds of miles away. People told WJZ nowhere seems safe.

The mass murder of innocent victims on American soil has left the country in shock. The youngest victim was 18 years old, and the oldest was 50.

On Tuesday night, members of mega church the Empowerment Temple in Baltimore came together to pray for the victims, who were targeted in a gay club.

"Regardless of their sexual orientation, to me, I see it as an attack on humanity, on life itself," said Pastor Derrick Etienne, Empowerment Temple AME Church.

For some Baltimoreans, the massacre in Orlando hits close to home.

"I have several people that I know and even in my family in the LGBT community, so it was very close to home for me. And not only that, but just to know that could have been me, it could have been my children," said Atiya Stevenson, Empowerment Temple AME Church.

For many who came for the vigil, they say prayer can help to change a sense of hopelessness many are feeling after the attacks in Orlando.

"People are uneasy about where the things are taking a turn, where we are going as a people, as a nation, so therefore, that's why we've come here today -- so that we can pray to ease the mind," said Etienne.

There were also vigils in College Park and Frederick on Tuesday night.

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