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Kansas City mothers of slain children offer support at 3 year old's vigil

Posted at 4:19 AM, May 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-22 10:38:52-04

At the Loose Park vigil for slain 3-year-old Marcus Haislip III, mother’s of other murdered children offered their support to Haislip’s family.

Previous coverage: Boy dies from injuries after triple shooting in KCMO

Michelle Metje was the first to talk directly to Haislip’s mother, telling her to not give up faith and keep going forward.

“For these babies out here we have to teach them how to have grit, how to live through the worst day of your life and still be ok,” said Metje.

Metje’s son, Corey Laykovich, was stabbed to death in 2013. Metje created a nonprofit to help family members of homicide victims with funeral costs.

“I fell to the ground the day that I found out that Corey died. I was seriously on my knees screaming ‘I can’t do this,’” said Metje. “My son put his hand on my back and said ‘Yes Mommy, you can.’ [to Haislip’s mother] Yes Momma, You can and you will and you will have justice.

Charity Guinn, who’s 6-year-old daughter Angel Hooper was murdered in a 2014 drive-by, offered support when the public’s fades.

“This crowd will soon fade away. You probably will never see any of these people again but I’m here mother to mother to let you know that I want to be here for you because I know how it is to lose a child and it’s hard,” said Guinn.

Family and friends recalled Haislip as an intelligent, outspoken and happy kid who loved Spiderman.

Ad-Hoc Group Against Crime organized the vigil held at the shelter near the Wornall entrance to Loose Park.

“There’s someone out there roaming our streets and our streets will never be safe if our people remain silent,” said Ad-Hoc President Damon Daniel.

Daniel says of the 43 homicides in Kansas City this year, roughly 36 percent of victims were under 24, and 60 percent are black males.

Extended Coverage : Homicide Tracker 

“That means that there are folks that look like me that have died senselessly [including] the young people. Our generation, our next generation is dying in our streets,” said Daniel.

Daniel says the vigil’s purpose is to remember Haislip, ask for the public to help solve the crime, help the family learn how to grieve, and raise funds for the unexpected funeral costs.

Donations can be made through Serenity Memorial Chapel.