Serena Hargraves held a candle above her head and watched as these gathered within the park launched black and blue balloons into the sky. She tried to calm her respiratory, however it was an excessive amount of. She started to cry.
Washington
Family, friends mourn man fatally shot by D.C. police
A D.C. police officer fatally shot Kevin Hargraves-Shird on Saturday in Northwest Washington. His household believes he was unjustly killed and has referred to as for accountability, and solutions to many questions surrounding the capturing. However on this Tuesday evening, they gathered for a vigil in Fort Slocum Park in Northwest Washington, close to the place he was killed, to recollect his life.
“Kevin’s character was hilarious,” Serena Hargraves, 38, informed the gang of about 150 folks gathered within the park. “He was recognized for cheering folks up and being there for everybody of their time of want. He was very fun-loving and adventurous.”
Relations leaned on one another within the crowd, comforting these crying as family members shared tales of Hargraves-Shird, 31, also referred to as “Smoke.”
“I appeared as much as Kevin,” mentioned his youthful brother, Brandon Hargraves — one in all eight siblings within the crowd. Hargraves-Shird was one in all 14 siblings, two of whom died. “I thank my brother for having that function, that love and positivity in my life.”
There are nonetheless many particulars in dispute in regards to the capturing that occurred about 4 p.m. within the 200 block of Madison Road NW. It’s not clear whether or not a gun was pointed at police on the time the officer fired — or what, if any, instructions have been issued by police.
Police mentioned the officer noticed Hargraves-Shird armed with a handgun earlier than the officer fired one shot and struck him. Serena Hargraves, who watched a video Monday from the officer’s physique digicam that has not but been launched to the general public, beforehand informed The Washington Submit that he seems to have been struck behind the top. Hargraves mentioned the household has given town permission to point out the video publicly.
The video, she mentioned, exhibits the officer pulling out his firearm whereas in his cruiser, leaping out and yelling “gun” earlier than firing.
Metropolis officers have till Friday to put up the video on their web site and establish the officer who fired. That officer, who hasn’t been recognized, is on administrative go away.
Representatives from native racial justice advocacy teams additionally attended the vigil and issued an announcement demanding solutions from D.C. police on the circumstances surrounding the capturing.
Serena Hargraves mentioned Hargraves-Shird dreamed of using youth and instructing them entrepreneurship. One other sibling mentioned he was “all the time in movement” as a toddler — a trait he carried into maturity, friendships and in elevating his children.
A pal shared how he hustled, telling a narrative of the time when her son and Hargraves-Shird have been boys and purchased pizzas, then bought every slice for $5. The three moms of Hargraves-Shird’s kids — Khalil Shird, 15, Dahmari Sensible, 13 and Symbul Logan, 12 — all spoke about his devotion to his children.
Termia Logan, 28, mentioned he cherished to select up and drop off their daughter, Symbul, at college every day, typically making an attempt to drop off Chick-fil-A for her at lunchtime. His father, James Shird, 74, mentioned his son would convey his kids over and allow them to know “that is your grandfather.”
“All I can say is, ‘Kevin, I really like you, however God loves you greatest,’ ” James Shird mentioned. “And as laborious as it’s for me, I don’t perceive. … I thank him for the time that he gave me with Kevin.”