Dec. 8, 2024 7p
(WGTD)---On the heels of a murder, the City of Racine’s Department of Community Safety held a previously-scheduled candlelight vigil Sunday evening in honor of community members who’ve been impacted by violence. Several dozen people gathered on the steps of city hall to listen to speakers and pray.
Two nights earlier, police were summoned to the 1000 blk. of Villa Street on a report of a man down. They found a 41-year-old suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
At last report, no one has been arrested.
Among the speakers at Sunday's event was Tamyra Morgan, who lost her 17-year-old son to gun violence three years ago. Dontrell Bush was a standout varsity basketball player at Horlick High School. He was shot at a house party by 20-year-old Joshua Daniel. Daniel pleaded guilty to a charge of second degree intentional homicide and was given a 20-year prison term earlier this year.
Sunday night Morgan urged young people to get involved in extra-curricular activities. "If it's playing basketball, football or whatever--take advantage of it and run," she said. "Get out of this community--you can come back here and help but get up and out of here and maintain your life. Take care of your family and survive because it's like a war zone in so many words. If you don't make the right decision-- it's easy to make the wrong one in moments, either (as) the perpetrator or the victim."
Donetrell was one of Morgan's four sons. Two are currently working for Racine Unified while a third graduated from the University of Tennessee.
Morgan paid homage to parents who are working two or three jobs to make sure their children stay away from street life. As for herself, Morgan said she knows she needs to work less and pay more attention as a single mother to her 10-year-old daughter.
Friday night’s homicide was the fifth in Racine this year, down from 13 murders that occurred last year. Several of this year’s homicides were cases of domestic violence.
Violent crime in Racine is down across the board.
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