Upstate Communities Grieve Over Connecticut Shooting

The Connecticut school shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 20 children and eight adults, led to organized vigils in the Upstate to give members of the community a chance to grieve and reflect, FoxCarolina.com reports. 

On Friday, at Springwell Baptist Church in Taylors, a small crowd gathered to pray and grieve together. 

Pastor Bill Simmons said he plans on preaching on Sunday about learning from the tragedy. 

"(We should) be grateful for what we do have and to also open up our eyes to seeing around us people who have need and sometimes the cast outs. You can't fear every person could be like this 20-year-old that would do something this evil, but how many times do we avoid people who are struggling and keep them at distance when maybe we could've been the answer that could've kept them from doing something like this," said Simmons.