As 16 green balloons rose into the stormy, dark gray Arlington sky Friday night, Roshone Jacob stood silent with tears in her eyes.
On that day, Jacob should have been celebrating her son Ja'Shawn Poirier鈥檚 17th birthday. Instead she was standing with family and community members outside Lamar High School, where about 70 people joined together to mourn and remember Ja'Shawn's life.
鈥淎s I let these balloons go, I just wanted to let my son know that I love him so much, and I miss him,鈥� Jacob said.
闯补鈥檚丑补飞苍 was killed in a shooting outside the school on the morning of March 20. Police say he was sitting on the front steps around 6:55 a.m. when a car drove by and someone opened fire. Another student suffered minor injuries.
Last month鈥檚 shooting rocked the school community. And so even though Ja鈥橲hawn was taken back to the family鈥檚 hometown of Pontiac, Michigan for a funeral, Friday night鈥檚 vigil was one small way Jacob said she could help Lamar students collectively grieve.
鈥淚 did it for the kids,鈥� Jacob said. 鈥淭hey were asking for a funeral, and we buried him back home, so I did this for the kids, because a lot of kids wanted this.鈥�
Ja鈥橲hawn was remembered as a kindhearted teen who loved sports, family and friends. His mother called him 鈥済oofy,鈥� and 鈥渁 loved, kind, sweet boy.鈥� The release of the 16 green balloons was symbolic: Ja鈥橲hawn was 16 years old when he was killed, and green was his favorite color.
Though Jacob said she didn鈥檛 hold the vigil for herself or her family, it clearly had an impact on the still-grieving mother. She stood solemn when presented with the last painting Ja鈥橲hawn painted in art class. She sang quietly when Lamar High School Director of Choirs Greg Haugen stood at the podium to lead attendees in a rendition of 鈥淎mazing Grace.鈥�
The moment was poetic to Lamar High School Principal Andy Hagman.
鈥淚 was looking up at the sky, and the dark clouds, and it made me think about life, and how we experience dark clouds, turbulence, and difficulties,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut we also experience beautiful sunshine and cool breeze.鈥�
The accused gunman, a 15-year-old fellow student, was arrested hours after the shooting and charged with capital murder and aggravated assault. Three days later, the boy鈥檚 father was also arrested and faces federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records . Police say they found three illegally obtained guns in his home.
The teen has been in juvenile detention since his arrest. Last week, Judge Alex Kim ruled the boy will remain in custody after a series of minor infractions.
"Being this is so serious, I have to be heightened," Kim said at the hearing. "Even the small rules are much bigger."
Ja鈥橲hawn鈥檚 mother said besides the arrests, she hoped for legislative changes focused on gun control and school safety.
鈥淭he government needs to do better on gun violence, stop all this gun violence, and protect our kids better,鈥� Jacob said. 鈥淭he school needs to protect our kids better by putting up more cameras and more security.鈥�
Lamar High School sophomore Taniya Banks echoed that statement.
Banks, who was in the same world history class as Poirier, said students should feel safe coming to school. She wants more protection for her and her fellow students.
She spoke fondly as she recalled all the qualities she loved about 闯补鈥檚丑补飞苍.
鈥淗e was such an amazing kid, oh my goodness,鈥� Banks said. 鈥淗is grades were good鈥� just him in general, he was just amazing.鈥�
鈥湸巢光�檚丑补飞苍, I love you,鈥� Banks added.
Matthew Sgroi is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org. Juan Salinas II is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at juan.salinas@fortworthreport.org or on .
