Vigil held for 8-year-old Kendrick Lee, little boy whose physique was discovered a 12 months after he was killed

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A vigil was held Saturday in honor of 8-year-old Kendrick Lee, the little boy whose physique was discovered Sunday, a 12 months after he was crushed to demise inside a west Harris County condominium complicated alongside along with his deserted brothers.

Alief neighborhood activist Joseph Dinnon, also called Capo Joe, was one of many audio system on the weekend occasion. He stated it was vital for the neighborhood to return collectively to grieve and honor the kid’s reminiscence whereas standing collectively to name for justice and alter.

“We received to return collectively and we’ve got to talk up,” Dinnon stated. “There have been folks in these residences that did communicate up, you realize what I am saying, however like I used to be telling them, generally it’s important to go above and past.”

In line with Harris County Sheriff’s Workplace, Lee was crushed to demise shortly earlier than Thanksgiving final 12 months. His physique was left in an condominium alongside along with his three brothers, who investigators stated have been deserted and compelled to fend for themselves for nearly a 12 months.

Hedy Carter stated she has identified the household for greater than 40 years and even watched the boys’ mom, Gloria Williams, develop up.

Carter stated she made a number of makes an attempt to contact Williams over the previous 12 months, and at one level, her calls have been blocked.

“This week has simply been horrific,” Carter stated. “It is heart-wrenching, devastating and we’re attempting to only day-by-day make it via this ordeal. Each time we might get near her (Williams), she’d go. Get shut, she’d go. We did not perceive why on the time, however as you see this entire 12 months of occasions, we all know why now. She did not need anyone to know what had occurred, the way it occurred, when it occurred, so we have been like ‘What is going on on?'”

Carter described Lee as an obedient, candy and loving little boy.

Among the many crowd on the vigil, was 10-year-old Josh Todd. Todd used to play with the younger boys when his grandmother lived on the condominium complicated. His mom, Shadarra Todd, stated they wished to attend Saturday’s occasion to pay their respects.

“It is powerful,” Todd stated. “These youngsters are going to have it laborious, almost definitely, the rest of their lives, so it is positively heartbreaking.”

Todd stated she’s needed to have powerful conversations together with her son about what to do and how one can communicate up when one thing is occurring.

“Bringing my baby out right here to let him know, all of those youngsters, that they’re liked,” Todd stated. “That they’ve somebody to go to. The neighborhood got here out at this time. Even should you really feel like you may’t go to your mother and father, you realize, perhaps speak to a pal, speak to a neighbor. If one thing is ever occurring, speak to a instructor. It’s important to let somebody know.”

Matthew Mouton created a customized tribute for Kendrick Lee that learn, ‘Shield Our Youngsters’ together with footage of the 8-year-old, surrounded by candles and mementoes.

“I do not need these youngsters’s names or faces to be forgotten,” Mouton stated. “Simply cease the violence. On daily basis once I create one in every of these, and I believe it is going to be the final one, and it is all the time two, three, 4, 5, and it is getting uncontrolled, and we have to come collectively as a neighborhood and cease it.”

Sources to report baby abuse or neglect:

The Texas Division of Household and Protecting Providers (DFPS)

24-hour, toll-free abuse hotline, 1-800-252-5400.

The Childhelp Nationwide Youngster Abuse Hotline

24-hour, 7-days per week nationwide hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD or 1-800-422-4453.

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