MINNEAPOLIS— Community members gathered at the site of Shooting Thursday in Minneapolis to pray and pay their respects to law enforcement.
“So many people were killed and injured. And some people knew it too, and they didn’t even know what was going on, they were just in the way of the fire,” said neighbor Valerie Mack.
She heard the music from the vigil and ventured from her nearby apartment to join faith leaders, violence-interruption groups and law enforcement.
“We have to keep the faith, we have to keep showing up, we have to keep standing out, we have to keep living the life we know we deserve for ourselves, our babies and our elders,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.
Those who knew fallen officer Jamal Mitchell said he wore his badge with integrity, honor and respect.
“People would say he would just stop by and ask if everything was okay after an incident a few days later. That’s the kind of officer we want in Minneapolis,” said Minneapolis Police Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell.
Lisa Clemons, CEO of A Mother’s Love Initiative, thanked the 911 dispatchers who answered the call that day.
“I don’t think people really understand what’s going through your body, your mind and your heart when you get these calls. So I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Clemons said.
Mitchell’s aunt and godmother Denise Raper, who lives in Connecticut, said her close-knit family feels loved during this time of tragedy.
“We saw his cruiser decorated with his picture and flowers and it brought us to tears because we knew you loved him too. Minnesota and Minneapolis loved him very much,” Raper said.
Raper said she helped raise Mitchell, one of seven siblings. She said he was always there to help and treated everyone with respect, something he learned growing up in a family of preachers.
“I want people to remember Jamal for the acts of kindness he did. He didn’t care who you were, where you came from, if he could do anything to help you, he would,” she said.
Plans for a public memorial service are still being finalized.
