Families continue calls for justice in shootings of children in Minneapolis
KG Wilson, the grandfather of Aniya Allen, stands at a memorial for her at 36th and Penn. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - As the recovery continues for one of the children, Sunday a march was held calling for justice for three children shot this year in Minneapolis.
This weekend, family members of Ladavionne Garrett Junior said the boy lifted his head for the first time on his own since his shooting in April -- something the family sees as a positive sign for his recovery.
Ladavionne was one of at least six children struck by bullets in Minneapolis, in a year when gun violence has increased significantly.
During a rally on Sunday, the victims' families called for justice in the shootings. These families are exhausted and they’re begging anyone with any information to just do the right thing and come forward.
Over the course of three weeks, 6-year-old Aniya Allen, 9-year-old Trinity Ottson Smith, and 10-year-old Ladavionne Garrett Junior were shot in north Minneapolis, stealing the lives of Trinity and Aniya, and forever changing Ladavionne’s.
"We are going to continue to uplift their names, we are not done," said Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo.
"When you do something to a child, it hurts the whole community also, am I right?" said KG Wilson, the grandfather of Aniya and a local community activist.
Now, nearly three months later, their families came together, holding space at the spot where Aniya’s life was stolen. The families have yet to find justice or closure for any of the senseless shootings.
"This is what they took from us, this is who they murdered, a six-year-old beautiful little girl," said Wilson.
Ladavijonne's aunt DeJa Garrett called the search for justice a mental prison.
"You wake up every day and it’s unbelievable, it’s not fair," she said.
After more than 80 days, she's done taking it day by day or hour by hour, now she says down to a minute-by-minute battle.
"Because one minute we’re happy, and the next minute you’re crying, and then the next minute you are completely enraged," said DeJa Garrett. "I've never felt in anger like this before in my life because these are kids."
"Any time that you lose a loved one every hour that goes by is an eternity," added Chief Arradondo.
Chief Arradondo says his detectives are working around the clock to get the shooters off the street. "They’re turning over every leaf, every stone to try to get that information."