Pastor Gregg Patrick Brings Together Grieving Families after 17 Year Old Murders his Best Friend

One tragic incident brought to a head two mothers lives, clinging to their faith after their life was forever changed by a recent murder.

A dispute between friends left one teen dead and two families devastated.  Early reports suggest a dispute over a dice game left Aqeel Omar Ciacedo dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Tyran Joshua Riley, 17, turned himself in on last Friday and admitted to his role in the shooting death of Aqeel Omar Ciacedo, prosecutors say.

Less than a week later the two families are relying on their faith to get them through.

Carla Faircloth, mother of the victim, and Tiffany Riley the mother of the accused are connected forever by this tragedy.  The connections don’t end there however.  Both families are members of the same church.

Their Pastor, Dr. Gregg Patrick of Southwest Community Christian Center known as the “The Bridge” in Houston, TX, brought the two mothers together to mend any harsh feelings, and focus the mothers on love and forgiveness that’s ironically the mega churches long-standing motto.

Founded in 1991, The Bridge has become a pillar in the southwest area of Houston.  Pastor Gregg Patrick say’s, “We brought the families together to end all the rumors that are being circulated around the case.  The two mothers cried and spoke for nearly two hours, as the healing process began.”

Mega-Church leader Bishop James Dixon of the Community of Faith church was also in the room to mediate the conversation between the Riley and Faircloth families.  The siblings of both the accused and the victim were also in attendance Wednesday.

Riley has been charged with capital murder and is being held without bail court records show.

Harris County homicide investigators said that Ciacedo was playing dice Friday, May 10th in the breezeway of an apartment complex at 3530 Green Crest Drive and got into an argument with Riley at about 10:30 p.m.  Riley, a Louisiana native, allegedly pulled a firearm and shot the victim at least once.

The victim’s mother Carla Faircloth didn’t find out until days later that the shooter had turned himself in.   Upset by the handling of the case, Faircloth has expressed discontent for the lack of communication by the Harris County Police investigators assigned to the case.

Pastor Patrick hopes that the dialog will stop any retaliation that’s common in emotional cases such as this.

[Tyran Joshua Riley, 17, has been charged with capital murder in the May 9 shooting death of Aqeel Omar Ciacedo]

A press conference is planned for 11am Thursday, May 16^th to address issues surrounding the case, and to present a united front against teen violence.  Two families united by their Christian faith and church home, aim to bring glory to God and prevent the escalation of these senseless crimes brought about by gun violence.

The wake is this Friday, May 17^th from 7-9pm at Southwest Community Christian Center, The Bridge.  The viewing is Saturday, May 18^th beginning at 10am with the funeral starting at 11am.

For church address and more information visit www.swcbc.net