The relatives of the three children recently shot in Minneapolis' North Side joined city and business leaders Sunday to ratchet up pressure for anyone who has information to come forward.
"Every day, every day, every day, we wake up, it starts over again. The pain, the hurt, it starts over and over again," said Raishawn Smith, the father of 9-year-old Trinity Ottoson-Smith, who was shot earlier this month while jumping on a trampoline in the city's Jordan neighborhood.
Relatives of the three children gathered outside City Hall with representatives from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Minneapolis Downtown Council, and Crime Stoppers of Minnesota. The organizations said they're fundraising to offer $30,000 in reward money to people who provide information leading to an arrest or conviction.
The family's pleas for information were echoed by Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, who said he had a clear message:
"There are those in our community who know who's done this," he said at the news conference. "Whether they're staying in your homes or apartments, whether you're shielding or putting away their guns for them. You are just as complicit, and we're gonna come after you."
The shootings of three young children — Smith, 10-year-old Ladavionne Garrett Jr., and 6-year-old Aniya Allen — in the span of just a couple weeks shocked a city already reeling from the pandemic, rising violent crime, and George Floyd's death in police custody last year.
"What hurts me is that I probably helped your families who did this to us," said K.G. Wilson, Aniya's grandfather, and a local activist who works to reduce violence.
"Look at us," he said, asking people who have information to share it.
Later Sunday, 150 to 200 people marched to North Memorial Health Hospital, where Ladavionne and Trinity remain hospitalized. Aniya died from her injuries last week.
Ladavionne's father, Ladavionne Garrett Sr., thanked the crowd for marching and praying with them.
"I'm done with the streets, there's guys out here shooting guns for no reason," he said, adding: "Hug your kids."
Devante Lowe and Rachel Taylor took part in the march. "I have kids, and this hits close to home," said Lowe.
The request for people to step forward with information came amid an especially violent weekend that left at least four people dead and 12 wounded.
Anyone with information on the children's shootings is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. People who call can remain anonymous, said John Elder, who serves on the organization's board, and works as a spokesman for Minneapolis police.
Elder said Crime Stoppers is separate from law enforcement. Information that comes in "is scrubbed electronically," he said, adding that each tipster is given an ID number, which is assigned to a case and used to communicate with the person.
When they get ready to deliver the reward, Crime Stoppers gives the tipster a code word and tells them to go to a specific location where someone unaffiliated with law enforcement, such as a teller, will hand them an envelope with the money.
The organization is planning to offer up to $10,000 in each of the three cases.
Staff photographer Elizabeth Flores contributed to this report.
Liz Navratil • 612-673-4994
