BUFFALO, N.Y. — The mother of a three-year-old homicide victim is speaking out, calling on the community to do more to end violence.
"This is really too much," said Shakenya Griffin, whose son Ramone Carter died Friday after being shot while playing with his seven-year-old sister outside the family home on Domedion Avenue. The girl was wounded but survived.
On Tuesday, police and prosecutors announced the arrest of two teenage boys, ages 14 and 16, in connection with the shootings of the children who officials say were not their intended targets.
"The violence has got to stop, it really does," said Griffin, who spoke with 2 On Your Side prior to the announcement of the arrests.
I always wanted a son
"I always wanted a son. I got my son. Now I don't have a son. This really is too much... too much for me..." said Griffin, her voice trailing off as she sat outside the home near where the shootings took place.
Griffin spoke about Ramone as a boy with a gregarious and engaging personality who loved football and to dance. She also said he was smart to the point where she sometimes wondered if he hadn't been on this earth before.
He's gone from it now.
As innocent a victim as one could be.
Stop the violence
"This violence has just got to stop," Griffin said again. "This is ridiculous. I'm hearing it every day about people being shot and stuff and it's just gotta stop period. I would never think I would go through it myself...I miss my son. I really miss him. This is really too much for me."