More than 1,000 Gather to Remember Pastor Killed in Accidental Shooting
CHARLOTTE, NC — More than 1,500 gathered at Nations Ford Community Church Monday to remember Bishop Phillip Davis.
“He’s impacted my life so much, I’ll never be the same,” said Associate Pastor Kevin Butler.
Saturday afternoon, Butler learned Davis’ wife found him dead after investigators say he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun at his Weddington home.
“It was truly shock and numbness, disbelief,” said church member Adrienne Young.
The pastor’s death was the first accidental firing fatality in Union County in five years according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. It is one of only four accidental discharges there. It’s a rarity in the community that gun safety instructors take seriously.
“When someone dies in an accidental tragedy, a great person, a good person, we’re so sad,” said owner of Hyatt’s Gun Shop, Larry Hyatt. “Always treat all guns as if they’re loaded all the time. You think that way, you’ll point it in the right direction. You won’t pull the trigger.”
Davis’ congregation remembers him as one of many Charlotte leaders who, at times, held the reins as Charlotte faced racial tensions. He gathered with demonstrators and spoke at rallies in an effort to keep peace after the trial of CMPD Officer Wes Kerrick.
“I prayed a lot for his protection because he was so vocal in how he believes in us coming together as one body,” said Young. “Nobody’s just black, white, Hispanic. He wanted us all to be together.”
Those he mentored prepared to pass on that awareness in the week leading up to his funeral.
The service is set for Saturday. We will update you as more information becomes available.
