Loved ones honor 3-year-old boy killed in June shooting on what would have been his birthday
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"You'd never think in a million years that it'd be yours."
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's been a little over two weeks since 3-year-old Ramone Carter was shot and killed on Domedion Avenue in Buffalo. On Saturday, Carter's family came together to honor his life on what would've been his 4th birthday.
Carter, also known as “Luckie” or “Red”, was shot during an outdoor family gathering on June 21. He was rushed in a police vehicle to ECMC where he was later declared deceased. His 7-year-old sister who was standing next to him was also grazed by a bullet.
"When it hits home, it's different," said Shakira Campbell, Carter's sister. "You'd never think in a million years that it'd be yours."
Family members gathered together on Domedion to celebrate Carter's birthday and reflect on the type of kid he was. They say the healing process has not been linear.
"It's hard and it's stressful," said Shakenya Griffin, Carter's mother. "I break down every second I remember what happened that night. It's stressful not having my son here."
Two teenagers have been indicted in connection with the shooting that took Carter's life. Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane said it’s believed that they were not targeting Carter and his sister but were allegedly targeting another young person.
Demeca Evans is the co-owner of D&A Events with a Purpose, an organization that holds events with the goal of raising awareness on certain topics. She is also a youth case manager who helped organize Saturday's gathering. She says while she has closure knowing the boys are behind bars, she's worried about the youth being exposed to this type of violence.
"What is going to prevent this from happening again? That's what we need to know as a society," said Evans. "When you just punish these youth and send them back out here, what do you think is going to happen?"
Carter's family says the days without have been the furthest from easy. His mother and sister say they feel his presence with them often, especially on the hard days.
"I love him, I miss him," Campbell said. "There's not a day where I don't think about him. That's my baby brother. I just want him to know that I really wish he was here."
Carter's mother also shared that Carter's little sister, Jamiah, is out of the hospital and is doing well. She often says she wishes she could have saved her little brother.
Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.