This blog is designed for parents, families, and friends who are victims of gun violence. Please use this blog as a platform to vent, pray, and talk about your experience with gun violence. Also, please share your ideas, thoughts, and opinions about positive solutions to the gun violence problem in the city of Chicago.
http://abc7chicago.com/tag/chicago-shooting/
When will it end??
amothersplea-dobetta 
It’s unfortunate that the city of Chicago is not a safe place. In order to save our children and have peace, the police, community, government, and politicians must work together.
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Yes it truly ashame young lives dont get the chance to live life. We really need to stick together and put or minds together to over come this madness . But as years go by it gets more and more out of control. All i do is pray that gun violence would be deceased.
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you are right they would hav e to come together. However they will not, so we must do things ourselves by protesting and getting more people that will help in getting the funding and add more programs. However the energy of gun laws are also improtant key piece of violence in our communities. We need more gun laws in this state now the last governor, mayor, senator, and other law makers have to create tougher gun laws in our state together. They all must sign a law against guns but big poltics get in the way. No bill was signed. So the violence continues.
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It is sorrow pain and tears for families like mine , who looses a family member. As I have tears in my eyes as write this comment PLEASE Put down the guns and let us raise our sons!
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It took me a while to sit down and think of the right words to say to express myself without anger without being insensitive to the fact that this senseless violence affects more than just me and my family it affects each and every person whom has lost a loved one to the violence goin on in these streets. But dam wat does it take how many GOOD young black men have to be taken away from there loved ones and family how many excuses will be given how many times will this be overlooked as “Gang related” as just senseless violence! My family lost a good one, so young and full of hope and so much potential and promise very much a pillar that our family’s future needed and depended on. We are left with a hole that cant be filled and cant be replaced! Looking into my cousins eyes i see a part of her gone forever! A pain that can never be healed im sorry but that is enough to piss me off! Something has to be done right now and WE must come up with a solution! But honestly Ru already had it figured out he already made it so simple for us! The blue print has already been laid and made so simple! DO BETTER! If we all took those words to live by dam wat a huge difference it would make in all our lives!! Live life and always learn and simply Do better! Be in peace cousin until we see each other again!!
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So touching ..😥
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Mannnnnn… they took OUR golden child away wayyyyy to soon!!! Our Roo our Djay MY boy was talented in sooo many ways. He touched everyone’s hearts that he knew, my boy was everything to my sisters , his mother . And his family . Now there’s an emptiness in all of our hearts that will never be filled again.Please ppl make this message go VIRAL so that ppl know this tragedy is one of many if they won’t PUT DOWN THESE GUNS!!!!
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We just have to #Do Better auntie😘😘
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Losing my little cousin was the toughest thing I dealt with in my life. He was like my little brother. He was always at our house when we were little. And I see and hear the shooting everyday on the news. And I hate to sound repetitive, but there has to be a solution to the gun violence here in Chicago. Solutions for the gun violence in inner cities are hard to come by. The best solution I can think of at this moment would be to generate more interactions with the police and kids in community events. That could curve the problem in the future. And for the teens and young adults, Job training and job placement can help keep these guys off the streets. If these young people are working, then the likelihood of them being out on the streets involved in illegal activity goes down and could help curve the shootings. This would require some funding from the government and it is why it is important that we try to elect individuals that want to help in this regard.
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That is an excellent idea. .
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Losing my cousin is definitly something thats hard to cope with. He was my cousin but He was more like a older brother to me since we grew up together. He was that 1 cousin that im always happy to see at the family events, whenever he shows up I know we’re gonna have a fun time. He was a bright and intelligent young man. I pray everyday that God can lead the detectives to solving this case. Shawn didn’t deserve this and it hurts my heart because I know he had so many things lined up for him he was achieving so much and I was and still am so proud of him. My prayers go out to his mom who is so strong and to everyone who is dealing with this heartbreaking loss.
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Deshawn Johnson is such an inspirational and outspoken person. So with that being said, it was such a heartbreaking experience to know that he has passed away due to gun violence. Being informed of the violence extremities in Chicago’s impoverished neighborhoods, has everyone looking over their shoulders which is sad. Getting more funding in education, summer jobs, arcade game rooms, and other positive programs will help decline violence in Chicago’s impoverished neighborhoods.
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Although I didn’t know Deshawn (or his mom) personally I know some of his family including his dad, a couple of his siblings, and his aunt Licia. From what I can tell he was an AWESOME kid with so much positivity and he was headed for greatness. It saddens me that someone would deny him (and his best friend) the opportunity to reach his full potential in life. I send my sincerest condolences to his family as well as the other families affected by senseless acts of violence that’s spreading throughout our city. I will continue to pray for you guys! ❤
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very great kid very respect I feel like he was also my son just all-around great person my son his cousin will never be the same he cry out every day for Shawn,
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I’m crying just to know we as parents have to stand up for are kids living in this. Cruel world not only do they know that they’re taking a persons life they are taking several lifes the people who is here have to go through the tragic every day of not having there love ones We got to do better they taking are babies.
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As I read this blog, words cannot express the sadness I feel for the pain that has been caused through this senseless tragedy. I have not experienced first-hand the loss of a child or family member due to gun violence, but my girlfriend lost her child to the same type tragedy not too long ago. I can’t express how incapacitating it is to feel helpless. To feel like nothing you can ever do or say again will remotely fill the void that this tragedy has permanently caused. I believe in this blog, someone said when referring to their cousin, that, “…I see a part of her that is gone forever”. That’s what I see when I look into my girlfriend’s eyes…a part of her that can never, ever be recovered. Like a darkness that no light can ever again brighten.
Sometimes, I feel inadequate as a friend and as a boyfriend because, although my intentions are always good, I don’t always know what to say or do. Although we have been together for a few years, now I have to relearn how to love and nurture the person she has been forced to become. Learning how to rejoice with her in her good days, but being prepared to shield and support her during the bad. Understanding that her good and bad days will forever be different than what they were before. Understanding that she will never again be that person she was before her child was taken away. Understanding that the world will never look the same through her eyes. Understanding that her anger with the world is a part of the healing process and patience and understanding is more important now than anything I could ever offer. My prayer each night is for God to teach me how to love her now. Teach me how to be that rock she needs to rest upon and that shield that will protect her in the mist of her storm.
Gun violence not only takes away the lives of innocent victims, but it also takes LIFE from the survivors. My girlfriend will never again be the person she was before she experienced this debilitating tragedy. There is no script that can ever prepare you for this. Not even similar stories from those who have lost a love one to gun violence.
Although this child’s life was taken far too soon, be assured that your son, nephew, friend, brother is in a much better place. This is a sad world we live when we value selfishness, hatred, jealously, and street credit over life…God gives life and HE has not bestowed to ANYONE equal authority to take life away.
This violence has to stop! We have to reclaim the value of life. For every person who is killed by gun violence, there is a whole bunch of love ones who die alongside them. We have to realize that we (black men) are becoming extinct at the mercy of a gun. We are killing off the next black president, the next black astronaut, the next black engineer (as he was aspiring to be) the next black man to carry on do-betta legacy and for what???
What does it profit a man to take another man’s life? Wake up (black) people!
I will continue to pray for you and your family asking God for healing, peace, closure, and a resolve to this reoccurring tragedy that plagues Chicago and our nation.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts.
My question: For those of you with love ones who have experienced this type of loss, how do you help them through the toughest time of their lives?
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So true … So heartfelt
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I really don’t have words to express the loss I feel. I know there is a terrible loss in my spirit and a missing piece in my life. You don’t have to be blood related to love someone as if they were your own son. Not ONE! I mean Not ONE day goes by that I don’t remember something funny that was said or phone call, or just a call from Deshawn for words of wisdom, or just an invite to breakfast. I managed him on the job for years and I’m his work Mom (in his voice ) How do you get over the loss, the Anger and even more the hurt. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? I wish I knew. Gone way to soon . He touched so many lives. I can’t hold back the tears. Help us Lord Jesus to get the answers we need. Whatever it is I’m willing. PUT DOWN THE GUNS!! LET OUR SONS LIVE PLEASE!!!!
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DJay was like one of my son’s. Never a dull moment & he had such an impact on so many young ppl. Im Melanie by the way, Breyon’s mom. My son was murdered with DJay. Two very intelligent handsome young men who was full of life. Everyone loved them!! My heart aches every day for the both of them. I miss them so much😢
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So so sorry I’m Djays aunt and my condolences for you and your lost . They were good young men and I pray constantly for our youth and children to put the guns down!!! #We must……#Dobetta
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Breyon was a great guy; he was intelligent, well spoken, and fun to be around. Two bright young men taken wayy too soon. Breyon and DJay are truly missed.
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Growing up together me and Shawn were similar in our giving and kind ways. We both liked to be there for other people.
I remember growing up together. We were a year apart but our birthday’s sat right next to each other;thus our birthdays were always celebrated together. i remembered not liking that we celebrated our birthdays as one. I grew accustomed to it. I found that sharing a birthday was fun. He was like my birthday twin. Now I can’t imagine my birthday without him. It will never be the same.
I remember not having a date for prom and I felt ugly. I was so happy when Shawn volunteered to be my prom date. He was the eye of the party a lot of girls wanted to know his name. I never said thanks. I didn’t have to. later me, Tekia, Tinesha, Shawn, and Tia had an after party kickback. We had so much fun. It was a day to remember.
You could into it with Shawn and he would still end up helping you out. He always tries to be there for others; even if it bothers him. He’s a person who goes out of his way to make sure that the people around him are taken care of. Even if he couldn’t be there in person he was always a phone call or text away.
I remember when i wasn’t doing to good. i stayed in bed all day; i had even lost all appetite and no longer wanted to eat. He came by and asked me what was wrong. I had gotten angry with him for not leaving me alone. No matter how many times i sent him away, he would come back. He refused to leave until I talked to him. He didn’t get angry or irritated. He didn’t tell me to suck it up and get over it. He was just there. He was understanding that what I was going through was not going to change overnight. He knew that it took time. He asked me what was wrong and I finally said I had depression and really bad anxiety. I told him that i wanted to kill myself. He asked me what I planned to do about it. I told him I planned on going to counseling. He told me, that I should not go by myself and wanted to take me. I told him no, but he said he was definitely coming; no matter what I said.
I remembered telling him I didn’t love myself and he said that “if you don’t love yourself then i’m gone love you”.
this was the last conversation I had with him. I am happy those are his last words to me.
I’m going to miss you Roo ❤
You will be dearly missed but never forgotten. A piece of you will always be with me. I love you Roo. I know that one day we will meet again. even now it still feels as though you are still with us. i can still feel your presence. wherever you are know that you are loved dearly.
I love you too Roo ❤
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I’m so sad about the passing of Shawn and Breyon. It’s sad when mothers raise and teach their kids to become responsible adults and work hard for everything that you want and someone takes their life because of jealousy. I feel that we have to start putting blame on these mothers for their kids now. It’s not a police situation anymore because these mothers out here know what their kids are doing and their not taking responsibility for how they raise their kids. Mother’s if your kids are standing on these corners, pull up on them and tell them you are going to call the police everyday that you see them out there. Search their rooms for guns and take them, give them a hug, tell them you love them, take them on vacations so they can see that those corners are not where they suppose to be. If your son have mental problems get him some help. Help them fill out job applications and help prepare them for interviews. These mothers want to hang with their kids and know their out there doing bad things. If you can chase a man, you should be able to chase your kids. When all else fails move to a better neighborhood (if you can) You cant stop being a mother just because they turn 18. Tough love is hard but you have to show it because you will never know when you’re getting a phone call for your kid
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Another senseless shooting https://www.yahoo.com/news/shooting-gop-baseball-practice-scalise-shot-120338383.html
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It hurt my heart and soul to know OUR golden boy will never get tohave a child . And my sister nor the rest of my family could never get to sit and talk and laugh and joke with my Roo. I just don’t when will we as family and friends , sit down and try to make these young men put these guns down!!! I miss my boy so much man I can’t rest cuz the tears won’t stop I can’t focus at work or at home. My GoldenBoy you are missed🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
#PutTheGunsDown….Pleaseeeeee
#DjayAunt
#DoBetta
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Losing Shawn was the biggest heartache I ever had dealt with in my 25years of living .shawn death was very unexpected and unnecessary he was a good man and had a promising future.Their will never be another Deshawn johnson that took away all the rain ☔️ and bought sunshine ☀️ Shawn smile was so warming and kind he had a very big giving heart it’s unfortunate that he is gone .But his legacy of #dobetta will live on whenever I walk shawn is with me when I run when I talk every step I make shawn is making those steps with me Until we meet again nephew sleep in heavenly peace 🙏🏾
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Very sad time for my family and friends. My nephew will be never be forgotten hope for peace and for better days.
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I come and read the comments here so often. All very heartfelt. I try to figure out what to say im speechless. Shawn was my cousin i got so many memories of him. I miss him. When his video first came out i told my girls look we got a famous cousin. They was so excited! Now i cant even watch the video. Sad truth its hard to face his mom my big cousin who always smiliing joking. Afraid if i see her imma break down and cry. I cant imagine her pain. The violence in Chicago seems like it will never stop. The news is depressing to watch. Praying for our city. This has to stop.
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I would just like to express my sincere and deepest sympathy to my best friend and her family. I pray each night for peace and healing for you and your family. Just know that HE will not put no more on you than you can bear. When it seems like you can’t go on, just rest in HIS arms and let HIM carry you the rest of the way. Love you!
Dr. Arkla Napper
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