YOUNGSTOWN - Shirlene Hill stood on the corner where her son had nearly completed his business degree and blocks from where he was shot dead one year ago in an early morning shooting, and urged everyone to do his or her part to curb violence.
One year ago Monday, Hill's son Jamail Johnson was at a party at his Indiana Avenue home when a fight broke out. Johnson stepped in and tried to usher troublemakers from the home when several opened fire on the party, killing him and wounding 11 others.
About 100 people gathered Monday at the Youngstown State University Business College in Stop the Violence Walk to remember not only Johnson but the 23 other homicide victims in the city in 2011.
Warren Mayor Doug Franklin also declared Monday Jamail Johnson Day in that city in remembrance.
Hill said because Johnson, 23, who was widely revered by friends, family and seemingly anyone he came in contact with, was always active in giving back to the community, she wanted her son's death to stand for something.
"It's the worst year in all of my 50 years in life," Hill said. "It's painful. Words can't even explain it. I don't know if there is a word, but I know one thing: I don't ever want another mother and father to have to go through this.
"I think he would be happy. He stood for something. He stood for what was right."
Johnson was involved in several volunteer and civic programs at YSU. His funeral drew more than 1,200 people. He was given his degree the day of his funeral by YSU President Cynthia Anderson, and U.S. Rep Tim Ryan spoke during the service. Flags in Mahoning County and at the Statehouse in Columbus were ordered lowered at the time.
Johnson worked at Footlocker in the Southern Park Mall and was a member of Higher Praise Covenant Church.
"He was a good person and a good friend," third-year YSU student Aliesha Finney said. "He gave good advice and always told us to not slack off. I always saw him go to schools and volunteer with kids. Now I go around to East Side schools and volunteer and talk with kids about staying in school.''
The group walked from the business school, from which Johnson obtained his degree, through campus to the memorial tree and plaque bearing his name. Hill stopped for several minutes and looked at the plaque and braced herself with the tree while listening to prayers.
The walkers went passed the Kilcawley Center, where 150 students attended a prayer vigil in Johnson's name the day after the shooting and ended at DeBartolo Hall.
There, someone read a name of every victim of the shooting, as well as other homicide victims.
William Blake, YSU's director of the Student Diversity Program, called for city officials to offer amnesty in exchange for turning in guns.
"We are hear to ask you to help stop the violence," Blake said. "Too many young people are dying in Youngstown. We need amnesty. Without guns, the killings will stop."
Family members expressed displeasure with the court's handling of the case. Johnson's uncle, Richard Pruden, said he believes justice has not yet been served.
"It's just not right," he said.
Three men are charged in the murder. Jamelle Jackson, 18, who also is facing 11 counts of felonious assault and improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, as is Columbus Jones, 22, and Mark E. Jones, 20.
Also charged in connection with the shooting were Demetrius Wright, 20, and Brandon Carter, 22. They all have pretrial hearings before Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge John Durkin Feb. 26.
In exchange for information, Braylon Rogers, 19, pleaded guilty to having weapons as a felon.
Investigators originally believed the shooting occurred because of an altercation involving a girl at either the Metroplex in Liberty or a downtown bar. They believed a group of men were kicked out of the party by Johnson, and shot multiple times through the open door, striking Johnson in the head while he was ushering people away from the altercation.
Johnson's stepfather, Sidney Hill, said he believes if Johnson were alive, he'd be running a successful business.
"It was really rough around the holidays without him," Sidney Hill said. "Just not having him physically present was the toughest thing. If he were here, he would be really taking care of business. He always wanted to own his own business and he would be into something where he would be taking care of business."
