Sister of Phenix City homicide victim organizes second rally to combat violence

Nearly two months after her brother was shot and killed, Montric McClendon is organizing a second community rally to combat the violence in Columbus and Phenix City.

The event will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the Community Outreach Church of Columbus at 5210 Armour Road #100. Loved ones of homicide victims in the area have been invited to speak and share their stories about how the violence has affected them.

“My goal ultimate goal is to bring awareness to Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama,” McClendon said. “When I say awareness, I need the world to know what is going on in these two small cities, because they cities are entirely too small to have all these unsolved murders.”

McClendon, who held a community rally on June 10, sympathizes with those who have to cope with the pain of there being so many unanswered questions about the death of their loved one. Authorities have yet to make an arrest in the death of 42-year-old Steven McClendon, her brother who was shot and killed May 24 at the intersection of Abercrombie Road and Mason Road in Phenix City.

Steven McClendon’s death is among one of the two unsolved 2017 homicides in Phenix City. There have been a total of four homicides in the city this year.

The most recent death occurred when 72-year-old Frank McClendon was fatally struck by a car June 3 at the intersection of Crawford Road and 17th Avenue. The two-vehicle crash occurred during a high-speed chase.

In 2017, Columbus has seen 17 homicides, 15 of which are being investigated by police. The death of 43-year-old Ruby Lloyd was the latest death. She was found dead early Monday at a Meloy Drive residence.

Ten of the Columbus homicides remain unsolved as of Thursday afternoon.

This story was originally published July 21, 2017 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Sister of Phenix City homicide victim organizes second rally to combat violence."