Stand with Kerri: Grayson's Story

Kerri's Story

On January 24th, 2022, God gained another angel in the worst way possible. At 2:30 pm, after visiting a friend, I stopped at the store quickly before heading back home. On the way to the store, a car appeared behind me and seemed in a hurry. Not wanting the impatient car to hit me accidentally, I found a spot to pull over, allowing the vehicle to pass me as soon as possible. After checking to ensure Grayson was unaffected by the awkward driving and what I assumed were construction noises, I put my blinker on and pulled back onto the road, continuing to the store. As I approached the store again with my blinker on, another car came alarmingly close to my rear, but this car decided, since I was turning to try and go around me. While doing so, I turned my head towards them, and at the same time I was facing them, the passenger was facing me, only he had a gun in his hand. Since my window was down, the gun had gotten so close to my face and was so big that I could have snatched it from his hands if it were fake. Feeling my heart in my stomach, I turned my car as fast as I could into the parking lot. Thinking I was safe as they drove off going at least twice the speed limit I thought to myself I just needed to hold my son and calm myself down. As I approached Grayson's door, I saw his head was down and thought he was asleep. I continued to reach for his buckle. I kissed the top of his head, attempting to wake him gently, and that's when I noticed something was wrong.

The buckle was sticky. When I withdrew my hands, I saw that they were covered in blood, and Grayson was unresponsive- the bullet had pierced through the trunk and right through him. I ripped him out of the car seat and began to scream for help, holding him as best I could as not to make the wounds worse, and that was when I felt the last breath leave his body; he had stopped breathing and his tiny body went limp, I knew he was gone. After getting to the hospital to hear the words no one is ever prepared to hear," I'm sorry, we've done all we can do." I returned to the scene only to be greeted by the mayor and the COP, extending their condolences. I still couldn't speak. Asking where my car was, I had been informed that since Grayson was hit in the car, it was being held in evidence.

It has now been 3 years. Three years of dates that have been canceled, three years of multiple victim advocates, and three years of waiting for some form of justice for the two responsible for ending a life that began mere months before. So when you see me ask for help or the next time you look down at your children, nieces, nephews, or loved ones in general, know that people in such situations cannot do it alone. It does take family (if you have it), friends (if you have them), and the love and support of a strong community because I wouldn't have gotten through the past 3 years without them.