The mother of a man killed after organizing a rap concert spoke out today against gang violence, as the suspect in her son’s murder awaits a jury verdict.
Annetta Vann, 51, spoke to reporters outside a Arapahoe County District courtroom in Centennial this afternoon.
Her son, Gregory Vann, 20, was killed July 4, 2004 while hosting a rap concert at an Aurora park.
Sir Mario Owens is on trial for first-degree murder in Vann’s death. Owens attorney said his client fired in self-defense.
Annetta Vann’s other son, Elvin Bell, was also shot that night, after trying to chase the man who shot his brother Greg.
A third person – Javad Marshall-Fields – was shot as well. He was killed in June 2005, shortly before he was scheduled to testify against Owens and others.
“It’s been two-and-a-half years (since the shooting),” said Annetta Vann today.
“It seems forever. I never thought I could get caught up in something like this. I’m just a simple person, the same as my kids.”
She recalled the night of the party as a happy occasion. Greg Vann had hoped to launch a career as a rap concert promoter and he was delighted at the size of the crowd that turned out that evening.
“We talked about plans for next year and laughed a lot,” she said.
Toward the end of the night a fight broke out and shots were fired.
“It was such a large crowd, I did not see what happened. But my son did not throw a punch. I saw him fall to the ground, I looked at him dying there.”
She described her terror, especially after her other son began chasing the shooter, only to be shot himself.
“To watch your son die, I didn’t know if the other would die. What do you do? Leave one and go to the other? I left him there on the ground. I left him with my brother.”
Sobs forced Vann had to stop talking, as she remembered the scene.
“My son had never been in jail, or in trouble. He always worked, he went to college,” she said.
Annetta Vann is one of three mothers of shooting victims attending the trial. The mothers of Javad Marshall-Fields and his fiance, Vivian Wolfe, are also at each session. Wolfe, 21, was killed alongside Marshall-Fields in June 2005.
“Our kids are supposed to bury us. We’re not supposed to bury them. Rhonda Fields lost her son because he was doing what was right (in agreeing to testify in the July 4, 2004 shooting). These were three innocent kids.”
Annetta Vann said that gang threats have made life much more difficult, and that her sons understood the danger.
“They knew how bad it was getting (on the streets). It is bad. You don’t have to know the person. You could step on somebody’s shoes.”
“Every black kid is afraid. You got haters – people who are not doing anything with their lives.”
She said gangs are out of control.
“The cops better step it up. We have to slow it down, stop it. No family, no mother should have to go through what I’m going through.”
Vann said she was concerned about retaliation, for speaking out.
“Am I scared for my life? I don’t know. I don’t know what society needs to do. All of us are scared. We have a big problem.”
Although she doesn’t yet know the jury’s verdict in the Sir Mario Owens trial, she’s confident that justice will be served.
“One way or another, we’re gonna get him. If they get away there is no way they’re going to be able to do this again.”
She smiled broadly and affectionately when remembering her son Gregory’s character, describing him as “outgoing.”
“He loved jokes, he knew what he wanted,” she said. “He loved social life and his family. He even dressed us right. He was my little man.”
Greg’s uncle, Clarence, said that his nephew was an icon for area children.
“He was short but he played basketball like he was six-foot-four. The kids looked up to him.”
