Community remembers Jacksonville six-year-old lost to gun violence

Jacksonville residents gathered Saturday for a candlelight vigil honoring A’mir Houston, a six-year-old child lost to gun violence.

Houston was killed while in the back of a car in the 4000 block of South Highway 161 on Sunday, May 17.

Theresa Cook of the Jacksonville Parent Action Coalition said the child’s death is exactly the sort of thing they’re trying to prevent.

“How are we going to work harder to keep our kids safe?” Cook said.

Cook was one of many at the Jacksonville Community Center for Saturday’s vigil.

She said her reaction to the tragedy was one of sadness.

“Enough is enough,” Cook said. “When is it going to stop? This poor baby, this poor family, this mother.”

One place Houston’s death hit especially hard was the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (JNPSD).

Dr. Jeremy Owoh, the district’s superintendent, said Houston had been a student at Jacksonville Elementary.

“The initial onset, when we first found out- it hit the staff pretty hard,” Owoh said. “And then our kindergarteners, his classmates, started to ask where he was, and so it has made for a very tough week.”

Owoh was one of several speakers at Saturday’s vigil.

He said the event can’t make up for several that Houston will no longer get to attend.

“On Thursday, we had the kindergarten promotion,” Owoh said, “And for him not to be there, and he should have been there, was pretty traumatic.”

Community members at the vigil encouraged one another to love their neighbors and put an end to gun violence in the community.

They also remembered Houston and prayed that his death at the hands of gun violence would be the community’s last.

“His principal, his teachers, counselor, they all spoke about how bright he was,” Owoh said.

“Just talk with your kids, love on your kids, and please send prayers to this family,” Cook added.

Two men who were in the car with Houston when he was killed escaped unharmed.

Police have identified a suspect, 21-year-old Artavius Johnson, and are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts or the crime to contact Jacksonville Police.