City Hall vigil held for Orlando shooting victims

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF/AP) "In your own personal way, a moment of silence."

Hundreds of people in mourning stood outside City Hall for a vigil to stand in solidarity with the victims of the Orlando night club massacre. The names of the victims were read as the sound of grief echoed across the crowd.

Akyra Murray was the last name read. The 18-years old graduated last Monday from West Catholic Prep High School. She was an honors student who was headed to college on a full athletic scholarship.

"She was a beautiful athlete. I watched her play," said Mayor Jim Kenney.

Angelia Gibson-Ayres is a close friend of Akyra's family and relayed a chilling conversation she had with Akyra's mother.

"She called her parents, said she had been shot and she was bleeding and she needed them to help. Then the search was on. It's just unfathomable," said Gibson-Ayres.

Akyra's teammates huddled while struggling to stand tall for their friend and her grieving family.

"She's really going to be missed. Her mother is going to need all of your prayers," said Gibson-Ayres.

Members of the LGBTQ community vowed to stand united in the wake of the attack at Pulse, the gay Latin club where the shootings happened.

"I think it's important that we're seen, we're heard and you can't hurt us without us getting together and saying something about it," said Jimmy Shrode who attended the vigil with his partner Eric.

"The terror attacks that happened targeted queer Latin-X people to try and erase us to try to tell us our love is unworthy, that we don't exist but look around. We exist beautifully, wonderfully and in power," said Nikki Perez who spoke from the podium.

The vigil ended solemnly with a march around city hall led by Akyra Murray's teammates.

"West Catholic live for Akyra," the chanted.

Other vigils, rallies and marches around the country: