Javon said he would miss walking to school with his older brother every morning or to the store on weekends. “I loved my brother ’cause he do everything,” the 4-year-old said. “He go to the store and come back, then he be giving hugs and kisses. Then he take me to his house, then give me some milk and water.”
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Mason Smith’s older brother Michael arrived in a white car with a woman and two children to the home where Mason lived with his grandmother.
He walked to the end of the block, ducked under the crime tape and was immediately stopped by police. They walked him back out as he screamed, “That’s my brother, that’s my brother!”
“Mike’s gonna get killed just like Mason,” the 4-year-old said, watching the commotion from the porch. “I hope Mike never go that way again.”
A few minutes passed. Michael calmed down and stood outside the yellow tape across from an officer. A woman stood 10 feet behind him. He wanted to know why his brother’s body hadn’t been taken way. Why no ambulance? Couldn’t he be saved?
The officer tried to explain.
“This is not a form of disrespect,” she said. “Sweetheart, I understand how you’re viewing this but if the crime lab can get any evidentiary stuff … we might be messing up the prints … If we move him, we need to make sure we get the best evidence possible.”
Michael tried to interrupt, but the officer continued. When she finished, he said nothing. He stood alone in a black hoodie, black pants and white low-top Nikes.