NATCHEZ — Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell is inviting the community to a community-wide prayer service 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Chapel AME Church, 228 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St., Natchez.

“I am asking the entire community and all leaders and all ministers to be there for community prayer,” Grennell said. “We are going to pray for this city, the families who have been affected by these crimes and for peace and unity in this community; and pray for our law enforcement.”

Grennell said it is time for the community to come together to put an end to killing that has resulted in 11 murders in the city of Natchez so far this year and two in Adams County outside of Natchez city limits.

“It’s totally uncalled for for these things to happen,” Grennell said. “People should cherish life and cut out all these senseless murders that have occurred.”

Grennell said he has scheduled a meeting with Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong, Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten and a representative of the Adams County Board of Supervisors to strategize a plan of action to end the violence.

“We’re going to talk about putting an end to crime in this city,” Grennell said. “It is time to put an end to this.”

Grennell also plans to go on WTYJ radio from 5 to 6 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday with guests including Patten, Armstrong and other community leaders to discuss ways to end the crime in Natchez.

“We’re doing everything we can in terms of law enforcement,” Grennell said, “but people have got to come to realize that life is too precious for these things to occur.”