Though rain prevented this year’s memorial motorcycle ride from Highland Park, family, friends, police and members of the Ruff Riders motorcycle club still gathered for a vigil to remember Demetrius Broadnax who was fatally shot with his friend, Jasmine Morris, at a local banquet hall two years ago.
“It’s been one year, 11 months and 12 days since Demetrius and Jasmine Morris’ unsolved murders. That’s a joke,” said Broadnax’ mother, Diana. “Police can’t solve crime when the community goes blind.”
Broadnax, 27, and Morris, 21 were killed at the Diverse Banquet Club on Kelly Street, Oct. 20, 2013, in a shooting that also left five others wounded. No witnesses have come forward in the two years since.
Pittsburgh homicide detective Bobby Shaw said he’s been with this case since it happened. He again asked the community for assistance so he can bring those responsible to face justice.
“I responded from my house and I’ve been with Diana for the last two years and it’s getting a little frustrating to keep telling her I don’t have anything,” he said. “This young man needs more out of everybody, more out of us and more out of the community. I’m not going anywhere.”
Diana Broadnax also called for laws requiring property owners who lease space for parties to have adequate security personnel and functioning cameras to insure the safety of their patrons.
After her son’s death, Diana Broadnax said she considered suicide and at times thought she would lose her mind, but faith in God and her grandson keeps her going,
“I have to always worry about my grandbaby. I don’t want him growing up to be part of this thing,” she said. “The free pass has stopped. Too many mothers have buried their children. We’ve got to help each other. If I can have the strength, you can. And to these animals—You killed my best friend. You killed me. I’m not afraid of you.”
State Rep. Ed Gainey, D-East Liberty, who attended the event, said people are scared to come forward.
“The fear is real,” he said. “For community to grow, we have to come out—but we need help from DA, and the police so when people do come forward, they feel safe from retribution. You always want to pray for strength for the families, but I’ve been saying we need a gun taskforce to deal with the way these guns are hitting the street.”
The event also included remarks from organizer Valerie Dixon, executive director of the Prevent Another Crime Today alliance, members of the Ruff Riders, and 10-year-old Demetrius “Little Meech” Broadnax, who wore a leather Ruff Riders vest, like his father used to, as he read from Ephesians.
The vigil ended with a balloon release.
(J.L. Martello contributed to this story.)
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
Download our mobile app at https://www.appshopper.com/news/new-pittsburgh-courier
About Post Author
