PEORIA, Ill. – For Jim Garner, a family connection led him to join more than 100 men Monday morning on the campus of Peoria Manual High School.

“I had a granddaughter that went to Manual, so I just want to support the high school and the community,” Garner said.

Garner and the other men came to clap and cheer on the Rams as they made their way to Manual to start a brand new school week.

It was part of an effort by Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria, where he urged the men of the community to step up and show support for students and the youth of Peoria, in the wake of a pair of shooting incidents near the school last week.

On Wednesday , a 15-year-old girl was injured when she was grazed by a bullet near the school, as students were leaving for early dismissal. Police do not belie

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