Emotional service for Delaware soccer shooting victim

Hundreds came out in an emotional show of support for Herman Curry, a victim of the shooting at a soccer tournament in Eden Park in Wilmington on July 8th.

The 300 mourners were part of an overflow crowd at the Canaan Baptist Church in New Castle.  Chairs were added in the lobby of the church where the overflow crowd could watch on television monitors.  Several family members were overcome with emotion and were led out of the church to a private room to grieve.

Curry, 47, was the organizer of the soccer tournament at Eden Park when a wild gun fight broke out three Sundays ago.  The father of six is believed to be the target in the shooting. Otis and Jeffery Phillips, no relation, are charged with Curry’s murder.

Earl Daniels was among those who came to support the Curry family. “Mr. Curry was a good friend of mine,” Daniels said. “He was a good friend that I am definitely going to miss.” Curry was the godfather to both of Daniels’ sons.

Curry was not the first friend Daniels has lost to gun violence. “We got to start thinking to have a safer future for our kids and if we don’t think that way that’s going to be the way of the world, people dying senselessly with these guns,” Daniels said.

Daniels’ son, Austin, was also at the service. “He was a good man,” Austin Daniels said of Curry. “He was involved in coaching and a lot of activities with the kids – as a lot of people already know – and he just didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve it at all.”

The Reverend Dr. Christopher A. Bullock officiated over the funeral service.  He said that the Curry family has the support of his church during their time of crisis.  He also spoke out about the rising level of gun violence in the region.

“I’m in constant conversation with law enforcement and community decision makers to put together a wide-ranged plan that will address the symptoms of violence,” Bullock said. “Guns don’t kill people, bad people use guns to kill people and so we must address easy access to guns. We must say that enough is enough. Thou shall not kill, that love is the answer.”

Bullock was speaking as the church pastor, but he is also a candidate for New Castle County Council President. He will face Renee C. Taschner in the primary this September.

There was one other person shot and killed with Curry that Sunday. Alexander Kamara, 16, of Milltown was another victim. He was buried over the weekend.