‘Part Of Us Died With Her,’ Ja’Nyi Weeden’s Cousin Tells WJZ

3 years ago 385

BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ) — Ja’Nyi Weeden came from a large household and was driven by adjacent bigger dreams. The 15-year-old was an aspiring constitution creator with ambitions of opening her ain salon.

Those dreams were shattered and her family’s beingness was upended Aug. 10 erstwhile the teen was fatally changeable portion with a radical of radical connected Gelston Drive successful Northwest Baltimore. She was rushed to the hospital, but she did not survive.

Monday, much than 2 months aft the shooting, police announced an apprehension successful her killing. A 16-year-old boy, whose sanction has not been released, is charged with first-degree execution successful transportation with her death.

Ramond Durant, Ja’Nyi’s cousin, opened up to WJZ connected Tuesday astir the beingness taken excessively soon. He said his relative was universally adored wrong her family.

“She was an implicit angel. Not perfect, but an angel still,” Durant told WJZ.

Between her talents and her dreams, Durant said, Ja’Nyi’s household was convinced she would spell acold successful life. They were each waiting connected the time that things came afloat ellipse and she started her ain business.

“We were waiting to spot her ain a salon, her ain quality shop,” Durant said. “She was perfectly magnificent.”

Instead, the teen’s beingness was snuffed retired acold excessively soon. A senseless sidesplitting successful a metropolis afflicted by convulsive transgression — Baltimore has seen 268 homicides this year, a 1.5-percent summation implicit the aforesaid clip past year.

And portion quality of the apprehension provided the household with a measurement of closure, determination are immoderate wounds that ne'er afloat heal, nary substance however overmuch clip passes.

“A portion of america died with her,” Durant said. “We truly didn’t person a afloat acquisition with her, and it’s devastating.”

Ja’Nyi’s household isn’t alone. Families passim Baltimore person been torn isolated by violence, whether their loved ones are the victims oregon the perpetrators.

Earlier this month, 16-year-old Delmonte Keels was changeable successful the aforesaid vicinity arsenic Ja’Nyi was. His sidesplitting remains nether investigation.

That young radical haven’t been immune to unit isn’t mislaid connected Durant, who said much needs to beryllium done to assistance the city’s younker — earlier it’s excessively late.

“If you look astatine it, the property is getting younger and younger,” helium said. “Our perpetrators are getting younger and youbnge, and they are getting much lost, time by day.”

The Keels household has acceptable up a GoFundMe to assistance them with last expenses. Click present to larn much oregon marque a donation.

MORE NEWS: Mayor Brandon Scott Announces Plans To Reauthorize Three Tax Credits