‘It’s very sickening’: Prayer vigil held in memory of man, child killed in shooting on northeast side
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis community is wrapping its arms around the families of a man and 3-year-old child shot and killed on Monday night on the northeast side.
Nearly 100 people poured out for a prayer vigil at the shopping center off 75th and Shadeland Avenue Thursday night for a prayer vigil where the shooting happened.
It was a sea of support as crowds of strangers, friends and family filled the very spot where 3-year-old Armonie Booker and 22-year-old Jaishawn Johnson were gunned down just three nights earlier.
For many, the loss is still fresh.
“He didn’t have a chance. Never got to ride a school bus. This is just sickening,” said Lakeisha Bowling, Booker’s great-aunt.
“He was so much like me in so many different ways,” said Booker’s father, Arieon Anderson.
For Anderson, it’s hard to put into words what losing his son means. The only way he knew how to express his love was through a song he wrote for his son, which played aloud on a speaker during the vigil.
“It was my letter to my boy,” said Anderson. “He was supposed to grow up and listen to and play it whenever he wanted to remember me.”
It is a pain felt by dozens, including the toddler’s daycare teacher.
“It’s very hurtful, very hurtful,” said Keia Gassion. “This is a baby I’m used to seeing almost daily Monday through Friday. And to know we won’t see him again is very heartbreaking.”
And with no arrests made, police are still working to piece together what happened. Many who attended the vigil describe the crime as something that should never have happened in the first place.
“It’s very sickening,” said Bowling. “It needs to stop. Everybody needs to just put the guns down and come together.”
Anyone with information is asked to either call IMPD or CrimeStoppers at 317-262-TIPS.
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