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UPDATE: Arrest Announced in Case Where Victim’s Mom Kept Vigil at Police HQ
Taloni Stuart Lee, Holding Vigil Outside Police HQ in Knoxville
Since I first blogged about grieving mother Taloni Stuart Lee’s inspiring vigil outside the headquarters of the Knoxville (TN) Police Department, I’ve had a number of readers email me to ask whether there have been any developments in her son’s case. Today, I found out that here has just been an important break in the criminal investigation.As I wrote in my first post about Ms. Lee, she is a mother in my hometown who lost her teenage son to gun violence as he walked home from football practice on August 10, 2010. After months passed, Ms. Stuart came to believe that the way her son’s case was being handled by law enforcement was part of a larger pattern of discrimination against crime victims from the “bad” side of town. So Ms. Lee decided she had to take action. She began a regular vigil outside Knoxville Police Department Headquarters. Almost every day, she would stand outside the building, rain or shine, carrying a sign drawing attention to her concerns.
In mid-March of this year, local media took notice of Ms. Stuart’s lonely vigil, and thus, of the fact that the investigation into a the murder of a Knoxville high school student remained open, and mostly undiscussed.
Shortly after her son’s death, Ms. Lee told a reporter that although she didn’t yet know who had taken her child from her, she had already forgiven that person. This is one more reason why I find Taloni Stuart Lee to be such an inspiration.
This week, an arrest in the case was finally announced. Another teenage boy has been charged with First Degree Murder. Based on the interviews I’ve read with Ms. Lee, I feel certain that she would agree with me that the fact that this teenager will now likely spend his life behind bars represents its own kind of tragedy for that boy, and for his own mother.
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5 Comments
[...] has been a major break in the criminal investigation into the murder of fellow Knoxville mother Taloni Stuart Lee’s son, who was gunned down as he [...]
Arrest Announced in Murder of Knoxville Teen Whose Mother Kept Vigil | mamapundit commented on Apr 22 11 at 11:57 pmmomof2 commented on Apr 23 11 at 3:15 amMy heart breaks for this mom and her loss… I can’t imagine the pain she must be in. I hope and pray she able to get the healing her heart needs now. She’s an incredible example of how to handle earth shatterin loss. On a slightly side note…she didn’t loose her son to “gun violence.” She lost him to a murderer holding a gun.
Jillian commented on Apr 23 11 at 9:19 amGreat news! What a relief. I have been thinking about this mother.
jzzy55 commented on Apr 23 11 at 2:37 pmI’d like to know what happened behind the scenes. Was law enforcement working the case all along? Did Ms Lee’s vigil prompt them to try harder? DId someone finger the accused during an investigation of another crime, and law enforcement got lucky/a freebie? The possibilities are endless. And I am glad someone will stand trial, I guess. You wonder what it all means, though, at the end of the day.
Felecia Outsey-Pettway commented on Apr 27 11 at 12:33 pmKatie please write more about Taloni’s efforts to prevent violence in our community. Visit Eli’s Escape.org and Follow her on Facebook. she has about three pages. I am currently the Community Outreach Director of Eli’s Escape, in Knoxville, TN. She really could use donations to expand her efforts. A 12 Passenger Van to transport participants and a building to run the Organization is much needed. She currently runs the program with the help of volunteers in the Knoxville Community at the Beck Cultural Center and Literacy Imperative. Thank you for posting this maybe their is someone out there who is at liberty to help her since they can’t protest with her. “The Power to Change Things are in our Hands We Need to stop Sitting and Take a Stand”
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