Hi everyone, my name is Mikayla. I never thought I’d be writing something like this, but my family and I are facing a deep pain we will never forget. On Veterans Day, November 11th, my brother Darnel was taken from us due to senseless gun violence at the age of 29.

If you knew Darnel, you knew his heart. He loved his daughter with everything in him. He loved his family. And he loved his community so much that he spent his time giving back, showing up, and trying to create something better than what he grew up around. Darnel wasn’t perfect, but he was trying and he was growing. And that’s what made him real.

Our family is completely heartbroken. There’s no preparing for this. There’s no guide for how to lose a son, a brother, a father, a friend, or how to tell a little girl her daddy isn’t coming home. His daughter was his entire world, and now we’re trying to hold her, protect her, and give her the life he worked so hard to provide.

We created this fundraiser to honor Darnel with a beautiful memorial and to make sure his baby girl has the support she needs. Nothing about this is easy, but we are standing together as a family and leaning on the same community he poured into.

Your support, whether through donating, sharing, or simply reading his story, means more than you know.

Gun violence didn’t just take a life; it took a father, a son, a brother, and a leader in the making. We want people to remember his love, his growth, his impact, and the community he was lifting up.

Thank you for reading his story and for keeping our family in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.

With love,

Mikayla & Family