Michael L. Miller Jr. was an amazing person who grew from a big goofy kid who played around all of the time into a stellar student. And finally into a young man with big dreams, a close-knit family and a new job on the horizon.
“He had a smile that warmed your soul,” said his aunt Siobhan Mayrant. “It was nothing for my ‘nephewson’ to call me and say Auntie what are you doing? I would say, what you want Mikemike, and he would say Cash App me $20.00 dollars right now, it’s important and he knew I would do it. We just had a conversation about me getting him the new Jordan 4’s. Mikemike said you’re going to get the kids some, so get me the all black ones. I told him you know them days are over for you but he knew I would buy them for him.”
It wasn’t the only way she helped him out. He began his adulthood employment as a security guard but grew tired of working the overnight shift, so he asked his aunt to assist him finding work at Einstein Hospital Montgomery. He landed the job and was going to start until it happened.
On Oct. 17, 2023, he was gunned down around sunset on the 900 Block of South 5th Street in Queen Village. At this time no arrests have been made or weapons recovered. If you have any information about this incident, please contact 215-686-TIPS.
Mikemike, also called Miz by his friends, was brought up in the church he attended with his grandmother in Germantown at Reformation Lutheran Church. He loved attending church and was very active as an altar boy and with the church’s youth group.
Even as he got older, he was always around family, and his circle of friends were so small some would say it was a dot. He would do a lot of things with his siblings like get a haircut with his brothers Jahmar or Marquis or hang out with his sister Anieka and his bonus sisters, Dejah and Devon.
Mikemike was amazing with numbers. He attended Independent Charter School, then Boys Latin, and transferred to Excel Camelot South High School where he graduated with a 3.8 GPA. Mikemike learned and spoke Spanish fluently and was inducted into the National Honor Society.
His parents, Michael and Nicole, recall their son being happy go lucky guy and silly. They would be laying in their bed and Mikemike would jump in the bed screaming, “Ninja roll! And we was cracking up.”
They miss those days and often find it difficult to discuss with others. “The pain is unbearable at times,” said his mom. “I often have more days when the grief overtakes me. I miss being greeted everyday by Mikemike with a high five and a kiss.”
Mikemike had a big heart and would help any and every one that he came into contact with. He didn’t see the bad in people although family members would tell him what they saw in them.
“It’s so hard for the family to come together now because we look for Mikemike to come through the door and do something silly to have us all laughing,” Siobhan said. “We looked at Mikemike’s Tiktok recently and saw him being his silly, goofy self. He was dancing around and singing to the songs playing in the background just the way he always has been.”
“No parent should have to endure this kind of pain. No family should have to endure this pain. I am his voice now and I will continue to fight for justice for my newphewson,” his aunt said. “We will continue as a family to begin the process journey of living our new life without our Mikemike. Continue to keep up in your prayers and speak up!”
Resources are available for people and communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Click here for more information.
