The family of Harrisburg resident Dawn Green has been torn apart by gun violence, culminating in the Feb. 10 shooting death of her 21-year-old son, Davion Walker.
Monday afternoon, with the help of Heeding God's Call, a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to ending gun violence, the grieving mother stood with her family and loved ones to demand an end to what she called a vicious cycle.
"I just buried my brother two months ago from a carjacking in York and then this happened," Green said at the vigil. "My family has been torn apart by this type of violence and it needs to end."
Green and about 60 family members, friends and God's Call advocates gathered at North 15th and Verbeke streets to celebrate Walker's life, which was cut short when his best friend, Maurice Belton Jr., 20, shot him once in the chest and killed him in what the family is calling a tragic accident.
"I don't blame him," Green said of Belton, who was charged with criminal homicide, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and drug possession as a result of the shooting. "We're all going to suffer for this and he's suffering, too, but a part of me is gone."
Green's brother, Edward Leon Green, 46, also was shot multiple times and killed Nov. 6 in a carjacking in York County, the family said. Theresa Mitchell, Walker's aunt, said her son also was shot in 2007.
Walker's family held placards and wore pins with photos of him at the vigil. His mother held a photo of Walker and his 1-year-old daughter, Messiah Walker.
"He is dearly missed," she said, speaking through tears. " ... My son was a stand-up man; he did what he was supposed to do and he took responsibility."
Belton, who was arrested at the scene of the shooting in his home on the 1300 block of North 15th Street, told police the shooting was an accident when they arrived. Malaka Green, Walker's cousin, said the two were very close friends and Belton had not meant to kill Walker.
"He grew up with us since we were little kids," Malaka Green said. "We forgive him and we're praying for him, too."
Walker's mother suggested the shooting could have been a result of the music videos her son and his friends were filming. She called the shooting a tragic outcome of "horseplay" between the friends.
Friends of Walker said his group's name was Royalty Music. Police said that the gun used in the shooting was reported stolen.
"While even one [death] is too many, there were 12 homicides in Harrisburg last year and all but a handful, I think one or two, involved a gun," said Stephen Drachler, who attended the rally with Heeding God's Call.
Walker's death was the first homicide of 2013, but so far two others have been reported, Drachler said, citing police statistics. Including Walker's death, two of the three homicides involved illegally obtained guns, he said.
"I'm just appalled at how easy it is to get guns and how many people have guns," said Kay Pickering, a case worker with the Harrisburg Center for Peace and Justice who also attended the vigil. "We're all at risk, each one of us, until something is done."
Walker's family joined the faith group in calling an end to gun-related crimes. Walker's stepfather, John Smith, suggested a revitalization of the city could help the issue by bringing more jobs to the area. Malaka Green suggested a new community center.
"This should be a wake up call," she said. "I don't think there will ever be an answer until everybody gets involved. Instead of picking up a gun, go pick up a book."
Many of Walker's friends, including Adrian Fluellen, still seemed dazed at the vigil, when the pain of their loss was still fresh in their minds.
"I knew Maurice Belton and Davion Walker since I was 10, it was always the three of us; we was family," Fluellen said. "Words don't explain it, I lost two of my brothers for some nonsense that didn't need to happen. Just leave the guns alone, people."
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