The cold blooded killing of two young Christian street preachers in Boynton Beach is being treated by police as a gang related incident, but faith leaders believe religion played an important role. They are urging US Attorney General to launch a civil rights investigation.

Contact: Dr. Gary Cass, Christian Anti Defamation Commission, 866-508-2232; Rev. Pat Mahoney, Christian Defense Coalition, 540-538-4741

MEDIA ADVISORY, Feb. 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- "The gruesome murder of Tire Sifra and Steven Ocean while sharing the Word of God in their neighborhood has raised some very serious civil rights issues," said Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission. "If they were targeted for their exercising their religion then their murder is not simply routine gang violence but raises important matters of civil rights. We have sent a letter to US Attorney General Eric Holder asking for an investigation." See letter at www.defendchristians.org.

"We are pleading with the city of Boynton Beach, do not sweep the faith issue under the carpet," Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition. "We want the police to ask questions about religious issues involved here. We just don't want them to say this is just another episode of gang violence."

The killings of Sifra (25) and Ocean (24) took place in Boynton Beach, Florida on January 30th. A suspect, Jeriah Woody, has been arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder. According to the pastor of their church, Sifra and Ocean had been out of gangs for years and were frequently in public sharing their faith. The killings have created a climate of fear in their church. 

A rally has been planned for May to honor the lives of Sifra and Ocean and to make a stand for the gospel in Boynton Beach.