MINNEAPOLIS -- Exactly one year after a man shot an Arizona congresswoman and killed six others, communities across the country gathered to call for an end to gun violence -- including north Minneapolis.
More than a hundred people attended the vigil at the Church of the Ascension Sunday, the first anniversary of the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords. The event also came nearly two weeks after 3-year-old Terrell Mayes was shot in his north Minneapolis home while he was trying to hide from random gunfire outside. The toddler died a day later.
There have been no arrests in the case, and police say the investigation is ongoing.
"Every day I get up and I do not hear my baby no more. I can not bring him back," said Marsha Mayes, who was at the event.
Mayes said she still struggles with the raw anger and hurt that's haunted her these last 13 days.
"There is nothing that anybody can say to me that's going to take away this anger, this hatred that I have right now in my body," she said.
And that feeling was familiar in the north Minneapolis church on Sunday.
"Time passes but it doesn't get better. It's painful," said Zuki Ellis about losing her 19-year-old brother, Dacquiri, 13 years ago.
"A part of me has to believe that there can't be this many more moms and family members that are struggling and dealing with this every single day, and it has to get better," she said.
Leaders at the event also called for change -- urging those gathered to support the rebuilding of youth, addiction and mental health programs that would help bring about positive change in the community.
"Now it's time to say, look, we've heard enough. Let's add on to the things that we have to do to change this community," said V.J. Smith of Minneapolis MADDADS.
Meantime, the reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for the death of Terrell Mayes keeps going up. At last check, the Crimestoppers of Minnesota reward was up to $1,950. If you'd like to donate to that reward fund, you can go to: http://www.razoo.com/story/Justice-For-Terrell-Mayes-Jr
And those interested in making a donation directly to the Mayes family, can do so at any M&I Bank. The donation should be marked: "MADDADS, for the benefit of Terrell Mayes, Jr.."
(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)