Family, community remembers slain teen one year after tragic shooting
WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - After the horror of losing a child, a D.C. mother has continued to see kindness from her community, even from those who never knew her son.
One year ago, TaQuan Pinkney had just graduated from Suitland High School and was known as a role model at Horton’s Kids community center near his Southeast home.
He was walking to the store to buy a soda when he was shot on Stanton Rd., a bystander to a feud he wasn’t part of.
On Monday, Yolanda Pinkney returned to the place her son was killed surrounded by family and friends.
"I lost my oldest child," she said. "I knew it would be extremely hard for me and my family to be out here a year later."
Local artist Jaleel Davis volunteered to personalize TaQuan’s memorial cross, even though he’d never met TaQuan. It was organized through Horton’s Kids.
"So often we take for granted a single life because we’re so used to seeing things tragic like this happen on the regular," said Davis. "But it’s a family that’s affected, it’s a mother that’s affected, it’s siblings that’s affected and whether we know him or not, it should affect all of us."
Davis also gave Pinkney a hand-painted jacket. Tears streamed down Pinkney’s face as she saw images of her son painted on the back.
In this same place one year ago, there was another stranger. Stanley "Mac" McHaney lives nearby, heard the gunshots and ran to TaQuan’s aid.
"I told him God loved him," McHaney told FOX 5 last year. "Not long after he took his last breath."
We were there as Yolanda met McHaney for the first time.
She saw him again Monday.
"Mr. Mac was out here earlier," said Pinkney. "When I came out with a few friends from Suitland High School to remember (TaQuan) and release some balloons, he seen the balloons and he walked down to us. And just gave us hugs and everything, just like the first day that we seen him. And it just meant a lot that, it’s a year later and he still cares. He still came out, he’s still concerned about our well-being."
After going through the worst, she said she’s met some of the best.
"I really have," she said.
A 17-year-old and 15-year-old were arrested in TaQuan’s murder.
In D.C., officials are barred from speaking about juvenile cases, but Pinkney said charges were dropped against the 15-year-old.
Elijah Jarmon, now 18, is being charged as an adult in the case and goes to trial next August.