Fatal Baychester shooting 1 year later: Families honor victims, call for end to gun violence
"I've been numb. I mean, it almost destroyed myself and my family," said Dr. Jennifer Talbot, Campbell's mother. "And we're fighting to even just be human... to actually feel again."
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The Baychester community gathered on Sunday to renew calls for action against gun violence one year after a shooting at a basketball tournament left two people dead and three others injured.
Family members, community advocates and elected officials returned to Haffen Park where the gunfire erupted. Authorities said 57 shots were fired, which left five people injured.
Anthonaya "Ming" Campbell, 17, and 32-year-old Jaceil Banks were among those killed.
A prayer service and balloon release marked the solemn anniversary as loved ones reflected their loss and advocated for change.
"I've been numb. I mean, it almost destroyed myself and my family," said Dr. Jennifer Talbot, Campbell's mother. "And we're fighting to even just be human... to actually feel again."
Talbot described her daughter as a young woman with big dreams and a bright future.
"She had dreams. She had huge plans. She had a future. She had a voice," Talbot said. "And now, as her mother, I carry something I never imagined I would have to carry. I carry her legacy."
Since her daughter's death, Talbot says she has focused on turning her grief into advocacy. She has pushed for more resources and opportunities for young people in hopes of preventing future violence.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark attended Sunday's remembrance and said three people have been charged in connection with the shooting.
"We're prosecuting the three individuals that did this, and we're going to get justice," Clark said. "This is not about how they died, but basically how they lived and the fact that they're not here anymore."
Two of the defendants were teenagers at the time of the shooting. Two of the three are expected to return to court Tuesday.
For the families gathered at Haffen Park, the anniversary was about more than remembering how their loved ones died. It was about honoring their lives and ensuring their legacies continue to inspire efforts to make the community safer.
