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Hi,
My name is Joeanna. I want to first start off by "thanking you" for taking a minute to read my story. I was a single mother and Christian Cherry was my only child.
Christian moved out to Tacoma WA from New York in 2020 to finish his college degree. There he found a community filled with people he considered his second family. He worked and volunteered with many organizations that supported the children and families of the Tacoma and nearby communities. By Dec. 26th 2023, my son was dead.
Everyday after having my only child murdered, I ruminate over what I pray is just a nightmare that I will wake up from. My son’s killers are still on the streets and that is a concern because these people have no respect for any human life. Not his, not mine, not you or your loved ones. They will continue until they are stopped. I can’t bring Christian back but I can try to protect the people he loved.
My heart has been telling me that I must do something to help find my son’s killers, make our cities safer, and get that community (and others like it) involved in a fight to self protect our families against crime.
I have decided to start a “ go fund me” with the focus of the money going to information leading to arrests and convictions on my son's crime stoppers page. If I am able to raise over the amount intended ($40K), I plan to give the surplus to the general crime stoppers fund to help with other unsolved crimes. Let me be clear, my goal is not to line my pocket. I want to bring him justice and then help other families find justice too. Everyone who is a victim of a crime deserves closure.
Why am I asking for your help? Christian was a role model but I know his life and death will not mean anything to the average person. My goal is to get Tacoma's residents, and other communities to stand up against the violence in their communities. One killer off the street is another man, woman, or child that will not have a funeral this year. The community must take part or his life's mission (and this cause) will be in vain.
I am hoping that you will assist me in getting the word out that the Tacoma Police Department ( and I) are still seeking information in catching those responsible for his death. This is a way to motivate people to show their love for him, support the positive impact he had on our society, and it gives us a way to stand up against the (gun) violence that plagues our streets everywhere. I can not do this alone.
My plan is to contact several news media outlets. I want the “go fund me” to run for 6-7 weeks with an end date on his death date (12/26.) All money that is raised will be turned over to crime stoppers with the hope that no-one’s family will have to live through the holidays like mines. We can make this happen. No amount is too big or small as it will take a village to make this happen.
I “ thank you “ once again for reading about my son Christian Cherry, and hope that I will be able to count on you to help with this cause. Please share my story and help to end the (gun) violence in our communities.
Joeanna Cherry
