My son, Andre Brown, was murdered February 10, 2019. Andre was very compassionate and had a big heart, often putting others first. He would give the last dollar in his pocket if someone needed it. Andre laughed often and was generally the person bringing laughter. The many fond memories of his laughter and kindness are haunted by a split-second event, a senseless act of gun violence that ended his life and laughter, changed my life forever.
I am navigating life challenged with grief and coupled with pain of uncertainty because Andre’s case remains unsolved. The difficulties and challenges associated with unsolved murder loss seem insurmountable. The healing process seems never-ending and there are times when it seems like February 10, 2019, was only minutes ago. Grief hits like a ton of bricks bringing every synonym for hard and difficult to consume me. The pain of murder loss makes my heart heavy, and my son’s absence makes my heart empty. I pray daily for justice, and I pray that no other mother will have to know this pain.