My son was shot and killed on March 14th of 2012, he was 13 years old.
We live in a small town and he walked to school on a regular basics, as he told me by that day I never thought that would be the last time that I would see him, but it was. him and another friend walked to meet another boy to walk with them to school. When they got to the other boys house he wasn’t ready so my son and his friend who didn’t live there went in to wait.
As they waited the boy who didn’t even live in this house saw a shot gun in the corner and thought that it would be funny to mess with my son. And even though Michael told him to get the gun out of his face he still ended up shooting him in the chest and killing my son.
It wasn’t the fault of the boy who shot him, it was the the other boy’s fathers gun that he had left out and loaded where any one who did not live there could get it and did. Because of his leaving this out my child is gone. When they did and investigation on this case the man that owned the guns was not even supposed to have firearms in his home. The boy who shot him was given 90 days in a kids jail, with time served and with the early release of house arrest.
He was 14 he knew what the chance was when he pick that gun up. I have forgiven the boy that did it, he was one of my sons friends but he was old enough to know what could happen if he picked that gun up but he still did.
I am more angry that the man who owned this gun, and didn’t have it put away where a kid or anyone could get it, and if he was doing what the law stated and not had fire arms in his home this sense less act would never had happen. He is still going to court and is fighting the case because he doesn’t feel that he is responsible for any part in my sons death. Hello it was your gun how are you not responsible?
And yes I am going to continue to fight for the rights of my son and what is right. To make it so that guns can not be used to harm another child like my son.
Junior had a heart of gold and helped everyone he could, wherever he could. He didn’t always make the best choices for himself, but he changed direction in 2011 and believed in a better way. He started working, followed his parole order, made all of his meetings and did everything he was supposed to do. He was a full-time dad to his only son; and a great brother, son and uncle. He was raised in a house full of love and laughter and gave as much back to those around him. He was gunned down on his way to play basketball with his younger brother, after a beautiful day at the zoo with his son. His legacy will live on forever but his vibrancy will be missed terribly. I’m a friend of the family and his death feels like it happened to one of my own. I can’t imagine the pain his parents, son, brother and sisters are feeling. Be peaceful, Junior.
My beautiful mother, Janet was shot in the head Sept 18, 1971. I was ten years old and heard the whole thing from my bedroom. Her ex boyfriend came to our house in a jealous rage and proceeded to murder her while I cried, helpless to do anything in my bed. He was arrested and stood trial but was acquitted on the grounds of temporary insanity. He never served a day in prison and to my knowledge never spent any time in a mental facility. He was married and had children of his own but made no provision for me or my future. He robbed me of my mother, my only parent. She was beautiful, happy, artistic and made me feel loved and happy. At ten years old my whole world crumbled. I was left to the care of grandparents as I had no siblings. She didn’t deserve to die and to be gunned down like that. I’ve had to struggle all my life with this nightmare and not a day goes by that I don’t replay this in my mind. I can’t believe he didn’t serve a day’s time for this horrific crime. There were two victims that night and why he left me alone I’ll never know. I’ve survived but the pain has never gone away. He brought the gun to our house and claimed it was my mothers and he was upset with her because she wanted to break up with him. She had broken up with him when she found out he was married. After 40 years it still is a nightmare that I can’t resolve. He has lived a nice life, seen his children raised and now has grandchildren. He lives not too far from me and I have friends that know his children.
We lost our sweet Blair on July 5, 2011 to a tragic accident. She was with family and friends on the 4th of July, being the fun, loving, always smiling beautiful girl she always was. She was taken from us by a bullet fired into the air.
To our beloved son, Melvin Darnell “Bonner” Robbins, Not a day goes by you’re not thought of. Not a day goes by you’re not missed.
On May 28, 2000, Lori Gonzalez, granddaughter of then, Los Angeles police chief, Bernard Parks, was shot and killed while driving with a friend in her car in L.A.
Linda Whiting, 50, was attending a dinner party at her friend’s home, on March 13, 2011, in Phoenix, Arizona, when an argument between her friend’s 18-year son, a Detroit man, who was visiting his family, and his step-father became violent.
Alma Washington, was murdered February 1989 in Los Angeles. She was sitting in her wheelchair looking out the window when a shot was fired at a boy running past her window. She was fatally struck by the bullets. Two boys were arrested; the 14 year-old juvenile was released early and other is served an unknown period of time.
An only child, Reginald L. Reese, 19 was shot to death in San Pedro, December 6, 1995. His body was found with multiple gunshot wounds, in a vacant parking lot near the San Pedro Harbor. Reginald was a student and worked for Spirit Cruise Lines. His case, like so many others remains unsolved.
Jennifer LeAnne Balber – 12/2/1973 – 11/10/1994
Chace was loved by family, friends, and neighbors and that was expressed when I flew from NY to Gary, Indiana the morning he was shot. I arrived at the hospital and there were kids lining the walls of the hospital that reminded me of people waiting to get the hottest ticket to the biggest band. They were weary, crying, holding pillows because they had slept in the hallway for word that Chace was going to make it. I didn’t know them because he lived with my grandmother. So I had no idea they were there for him. As I was being escorted by the nurse to his room in ICU she told me these kids are here for him. We normally don’t allow this many people in the waiting room, but we felt they were so distraught we couldn’t turn them away. We arranged with the hospital for each of them to go in sets of two to say goodbye to him. I will hold on to that day because he only had 19 years to make his mark on the lives of others. That day I knew his mark was to love and be loved. As a parent I could not have asked for more of or for him. I will be lighting candles in memory of slain friends, strangers, and above all my only child.
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