Durham's faith community says goodbye to slain pastor
DURHAM (WTVD) -- The faith community is preparing to say goodbye to Pastor Jamie Daniels, who was shot and killed last Saturday.
READ MORE: Victim identified in fatal Durham shooting
Since 2009, Darlene Segar and her team at Bull City Ministries in Durham have added 215 names of murder victims to a memorial wall inside their ministry. Now, they are adding Daniels' name.
"We are running out of space," Segar explained. "Which is so sad"
Pastor Jamie Daniels is the next name to be painted on the wall. The 33-year-old was gunned down off Dunbar Street last Saturday. With no arrests made, the killer is still out there.
Speculation is growing around the circumstances surrounding the shooting. But Durham police say they are not ready to say if Daniels was a target or personally knew his attacker.
The young pastor's death is a shocking blow to the Christian community.
"I think it was a call to action for us," Segar said. "A wake up call to say 'come on, guys. We need to be getting this gospel message out.'"
Pastor Richard McMillan said Daniels was like a son to him. Daniels grew up under McMillan's wing at Markham Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
"It's just so unbelievable because Jamie was such a good guy. Good guy," McMillan says. "Why would somebody do this to him?"
McMillan said he baptized Daniels, gave him a license to preach, and a platform to sing, all at his church in Durham.
"Jamie would go out and sing one song and the house would be torn up. All I would have to do is say a few words and that was it."
On Friday, friends and family gathered to comfort each other and celebrate his legacy.
"His life was not in vain," McMillan said. "His life was not in vain."
Daniels funeral is Saturday at 1 p.m.
Durham Police have a cash reward for any tip leading to an arrest.
