Murder, Up Close

I pick up your magazine every month. The March cover [“Murder by Numbers”] seemed too much for me to bear. But then a friend told me there was an accounting of every murder that took place in Minneapolis last year. I went directly to victim number thirty-six, my son. His name was Pestelence V.D. El-Shabazz, aka Valentine Alexander Durray Riley. We all know—including the homicide detectives working on this case—that he had a criminal record. But despite being incarcerated, he was a very good son to his mother. He was always concerned about me, always called me on the phone, always encouraged me about my goals in life, and loved and respected me. These qualities should be reason enough to solve his and these other unsolved murder cases. I love and miss my child, my son, my friend. He wrote me a rap symphony called “My Mama.” He was very intelligent and full of good advice. He had the most handsome smile. He is surely missed by all who knew him.

It would be nice if your March issue could be circulated all over the North Side of Minneapolis. I have always been concerned about my community. I hope that the next elected officials will care about it, too, and that the people who live there will care even more. Form more block clubs, watch out for your neighbors, call the police more often, and report the drug and gun dealers. I always did. There has to be a change. We have to do a better job of taking care of each other.