A pastor’s nephew was fatally shot outside of a church after Bible study.
RayVell Carter, a 41-year-old resident of Roseville, Minnesota, was shot near St. Alban’s Church in Saint Paul on Sept. 18. His uncle, Rev. William Land, says Carter “died the way he lived, for the Lord and with his Bible,” reports an NBC affiliate.
“Whoever played a role in the murder of Rayvell Carter, I pray that they repent of their sins,” Land says.
Carter, his father and daughter were with a group leaving St. Alban’s when shots rang out. Police were notified that someone opened fire on the crowd, during which Carter was killed.
Land told his congregation the following Sunday that they should not seek revenge for Carter’s death.
“We don’t believe in retaliation,” he said, according to Twin Cities Pioneer Press. “We don’t believe in it. You know why we don’t believe in that? It’s impossible to get even. You see, the life of somebody you hate cannot be equivalent to the life of somebody you love. So it’s impossible to get even. For anybody who’s out there and thinks they want to retaliate to help us—please don’t do that. You are not respecting our family. We don’t believe in that.”
Carter leaves behind three children. His death is the sixth fatal shooting in St. Paul in September.
