Gun Violence 258
Lamar Robinson, 19, honor student, hard worker saving money for college
Lamar Robinson was always a hard worker. He graduated from Strawberry Mansion High School with honors, and to raise the money he needed to continue his education, he worked as much as he possibly could. “He wanted to go to college, but he didn’t want to be a burden on me,” Wanda Robinson, Lamar’s grandmother, […]
Michael Cousette, 27, looked forward to raising his son with the love of his life
The love story of Michael Cousette and Naadirah Fate is not a typical one. They first set eyes on each other during a visit at the prison where Michael was incarcerated. Naadirah, a 29-year-old hairstylist from North Philadelphia, was friends with Michael’s sister, and she had come along with her to the prison to keep […]
Hakim Rashik Sinkler, 27, loving personality paired with ‘a smile that would melt anyone’s heart’
Hakim Sinkler would do anything for those he loved. If you were having a hard time, he would ask, “what can I do for you?” at the drop of a dime. “The fact that you could call him at 5 o’clock in the morning,” Anjennette Caldwell, Hakim’s former girlfriend, said. “It doesn’t matter how late […]
Nacear Gredic, 20, loved dancing on roller skates and listening to oldies
It wasn’t unusual to find Nacear Gredic dancing on roller skates. The 20-year-old was known for his playful energy and could never resist a dance or a twirl on his skates. “He couldn’t get serious. For nothing in the world, I have never seen him serious about anything,” Johndell Gredic, Nacear’s mother, said. “He played […]
Nasir Livingston, 17, enjoyed riding bikes and playing sports
When Nasir Livingston was about 10 years old, his world fell apart when his mother died. “It crushed him,” said Tyrique Glasgow, who lived near Nasir in Grays Ferry. “That’s where all his guidance was, and it was taken.” Nasir had some run-ins with the law and anger management issues, but he was a good […]
Daymond ‘Cash’ Garner, 29, aspiring chef who pulled through tough times
Even when Daymond Garner cooked up something as simple as a cheesesteak, he never kept it basic. He’d go through the fridge and cabinets and toss in everything but the kitchen sink. He probably would have put that in, too, if it wasn’t bolted down, said his cousin, Davida Garner. “It was like, everything he […]
Kristian Hamilton-Arthur, 28, Children’s Hospital worker with dreams of making it big in real estate
Kristian Hamilton-Arthur had big dreams. And his mother said her son had the drive to be successful. “He wanted to be a millionaire,” Crystal Arthur said. “His thing was he didn’t want to work for anybody. He wanted to be his own boss. He was determined.” Kristian was born July 21, 1988 in Philadelphia. He […]
Alex Rojas-Garcia, 34, Temple student, fisherman, award-winning poet
Alejandro “Alex” Rojas-Garcia and his sister had a special bond. They were seven years apart in age, and when they were younger, they’d play silly games together. “We’d jump from couch to couch and pretend our dog was a shark,” 30-year-old Aleida Silva Garcia said with a laugh. She believed everything her brother said, including […]
Erica McClellan, 17, feisty teenager with a raspy voice
May 11, 2018 wouldn’t just have been Erica McClellan’s 18th birthday, but also her senior prom. “When school went back in session this year, and she got her senior itinerary, the first thing she texted me was, ‘Mom, my senior prom is on my 18th birthday. I’m gonna save all my money, because I want […]
Tyree Zellars, 18, always seeking knowledge from his elders
Tyree Zellars always gravitated towards his elders. He loved his whole family, but thrived with the wealth of knowledge and guidance his grandparents provided him. “He was a family boy, he really was,” Alane Zellars, Tyree’s mother, said. “When he got out of school, he would go home to check on his grandma, then he […]
Emanuel Ervin, 21: ‘Who is this EE’ that loved to laugh despite terrible trauma?
When Emanuel Ervin was a child, his mother would take him to restaurants that had video games at the bar. He won so consistently that his initials stayed at the top of the list of the highest-scoring players. “Grown men would be like, ‘Who is this EE? I want to meet this EE! He has […]
Cristina Tosado, 38, pharmacy technician who always cared for ill family
Cristina Tosado was a strong, take-charge woman who was born to care for people. She helped take care of her maternal grandmother before she died in 2016. She also assisted in the care of her uncle, who died in early February 2017. “I looked up to her because she was stronger than I was,” her […]
Eric Perry, 24, ‘funny as hell’ family man who made viral videos
All Eric Perry wanted in life was to find a good job and take care of his family. He had two children, and at the time of his death on October 5, 2017, was working to get his forklift license. “He wanted things that were going to keep his family better in the long run,” […]
Justin Reyes, 17, Lover of iguanas, dogs, snakes, tarantulas, scorpions and even eels
Iguanas, dogs, snakes, tarantulas, scorpions and even eels filled the North Philadelphia home of 17-year-old Justin Reyes. As Justin’s mother says, he owned and cared for “everything except farm animals.” Their home became a petting zoo attraction for all of Justin’s friends. Justin’s dream was to become a veterinarian or a zoo keeper. He cared […]
Niam Johnson-Tate, 23, New Dad and Organ Donor
Niam Johnson-Tate was the baby of the family. He got whatever he needed or wanted — even a car, when his two sisters scraped their money together and bought him an old Pontiac Bonneville when Niam was 18. So when he found out that he was going to be a father, he felt unprepared for […]
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