EDITOR,

The volunteers and clients of Tracy Interfaith Ministries would like to express our thanks to the Tracy Police Department and the firemen next door to us for their quick response and professional handling of the shooting incident in our parking lot Dec. 14.

There were many women and children in our parking lot and the facility at the time the shots were fired. Many were terrorized by it. It was a blessing that no innocent bystanders were injured, as the shots were fired across the parking lot and in the direction of our building.

The police cordoned off the street and interviewed those who had witnessed the shooting without disrupting the service of those who were at Tracy Interfaith getting food. Their presence had a calming effect on those who had been traumatized by the event.

We are most relieved to hear that an arrest has been made and to know that the shooting was gang-related and has nothing to do with us. We pray that our police department will continue to deal swiftly and effectively to curb gang activity in Tracy for the protection of all our citizens.

• Editor’s note: Darlene Quinn is the director of Tracy Interfaith Ministries.