The families of murder victims carried pictures and memories of loved ones to a national day of remembrance for homicide victims at the state Capitol today.
“He is the only family I had and it has been extremely devastating,” a tearful Catrina King, 28, said of her brother, James Weston King, 33, who was shot to death last year. King’s parents are deceased, and James Weston, who was shot in the head during an argument, was her only sibling.
“It is important that we never forget,” Rhonda Fields, mother of Javad Marshall-Fields, told the crowd, that included family and friends of about 40 victims.
Marshall-Fields and his fiance, Vivian Wolfe, were shot to death in their car in Aurora in 2005. Marshall-Fields was killed for cooperating with police in a murder investigation. Three men were indicted in the murders.
Rhonda Fields said a “no snitch mentality” makes it hard identify and convict murderers. “What would you do if you saw someone that did something that is wrong? I encourage you to do what my son did,” she said.
The day of remembrance throughout the country was organized by the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children and the National Center for Victims of Crime.
Michelle Martin, whose son was killed three weeks before his 19th birthday, is a member of Parents of Murdered Children.
“There are more and more members. The numbers are increasing all the time,” said Martin, whose son David Michael Kelly II, was shot to death during a robbery on an Aurora street.
“He missed my son being born and my wedding. It is awful,” said Kelly’s sister, Adrienne Martin, 29.
Staff writer Tom McGhee can be reached at (303)954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
