New Haven Independent

Krystal Retells The Story

by Paul Bass | June 18, 2006 7:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Four weeks ago, Krystal Hammett marched with her best friend, Jajuana Cole, in the Freddy Fixer Parade. They were part of the Dixwell neighborhood drill team; they shared a love of dancing.

This past Friday night Kystal slept over her best friend’s house on Dickerman Street. Shortly before 11 p.m. the two 13 year-olds decided to check out a party on the block. They went downstairs from Jajuana’s third-floor apartment in a three-family house, past graffiti in the hallway reading “Fuck Tribe,” outside to the Dickerman Court apartment complex two doors down. They knew some older teens at the party. It was “Milton’s Mother’s tattoo party.”
They were hanging around outside when Krystal saw a young man pull out a gun.
“Please don’t shoot!” she screamed.
“Shut the fuck up!” he responded. And he sprayed the block with bullets.
Dickerman Court. One bullet grazed Krystal’s back. He hit the ground. Everyone else, including Jajuana, ran down the street. But a bullet hit Jajuana too.
Kyrstal recalled the night’s horror during a stop to Dickerman Street with her mother Sunday morning. She spoke almost nonchalantly about the incident that will permanently change her life; it seemed she was still in that first phase of reacting to the trauma, when lots of adults were paying attention to her as she told the story over and over, trying to make some sense of it.
When the shooting stopped, when the ambulance crews came, “I wanted to go to the same hospital as [Jajuana]. They said I can’t.”
Jajuana went to Yale-New Haven. She was pronounced dead early Saturday morning.
Krystal went to St. Raphael’s. She was luckier. The bullet, or bullets (no one’s sure of the number that hit her), did damage, injuring her in two spots in her back and one in her leg. She’s feeling continual pain, according to her mother, Christine Hammett. But she’s walking around.
Sunday morning Krystal and her mom were dropping by Dickerman Street to look in on Jajuana’s mother and learn about any arrangements for a funeral. The mother said she hadn’t made plans yet.
Then Krystal was headed for a physical therapy appointment, her mom said. The more difficult pain to heal will obviously come from the emotional of her best friend’s death. Krystal’s thinking about it “every hour.” She didn’t say that; her mom did.
Jajuana and Krystal were classmates in the seventh grade at Wexler-Grant School. They mostly enjoyed just hanging out together, Krystal said; dancing was one of their shared passions. They spent afternoons rehearsing with the drill team community volunteer Doug Bethea runs in the neighborhood.
A teddy bear hung from a pole above candles on the sidewalk outside Dickerman Court in tribute to Jajuana. Police arrested two suspects in the shooting; one remained at large. The two arrested alleged gunmen are 16 and 17 years old. Police charged them with conspiracy to commit murder and aiding and abetting murder.
The bullets were not intended for the girls, police said. Click here to read a release the mayor issued about the incident this weekend.

Click here to read a related story.

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Comments

Posted by: nfjanette | June 18, 2006 7:44 PM

Shortly before 11 p.m. the two 13 year-olds decided to check out a party on the block.

If parents won't keep their teen kids inside at 11 PM, perhaps it's time for a curfew in New Haven.

Posted by: quanisha cole | June 20, 2006 1:12 PM

i will miss my sister

Posted by: Lovebabz | June 20, 2006 3:42 PM

Regardless if kids are out at 10pm or 11pm, getting shot and killed is way too high a price to pay for being out late. Blaming parents does nothing but shut down innovative ways to get people to settle their differences peaceably. We live in a culture that accepts violence as a way to settle scores--whether its neighborhood turf wars, or land use a world away. Violence is used to show strength, flex muscle and win wars. Until we come to grips with violence anywhere, we will experience violence everywhere...even in our own backyards.

Posted by: brittany gilore | June 25, 2006 4:42 PM

i will miss my friend nonnie she was a very nice and funny person we use to do everything together when i was living on dickerman st. on the first floor down stairs from her. when i was stayin on dickerman st. i didn't know any body nonnie and her sister quanisha would hang out wit me everyday. nonnie never had a frown on her face it was always a smile i would say to my self dag i get mad and have a evil look on my face but when she got mad it was always a smile and the reason that was cuz she was always happy you would never know she was mad. well all i got to say is u will live in memories and in smiles we will never forget u nonnie. R.I.P

Posted by: SoVery | June 28, 2006 1:36 PM

My prayers go out to the friends and family of this innocent little girl who's life was stolen senselessly. When her light was dimmed the community shone a little less brilliant.

Posted by: tiara alexander | July 6, 2006 1:16 PM

nonnie was a very loving,caring,funny young lady and its sad to wake up every morning and know thats shes gone

Posted by: Latahj | July 12, 2006 4:21 PM

I love you nonnie I will se you in heaven when I come ther I will look up to you RIP NONNIE love you girl

Posted by: Boo-Boo | August 25, 2006 3:49 PM

I used to call Jajauna my fake daughter. I loved her very much and I still do. I know that there was nothing I could have done to save her because god felt that it was her time to go. but sometimes I feel that its my fault that shes gone and I just wish I could've been there. I will always miss lil Jajauna Cole but theres nothing I can do cause shes gone now.

Posted by: Aishah (Boo-boo) cousin | August 31, 2006 2:03 PM

hey krystal, just wanted to tell you that we will always be here for you, even though i dont know you all that well i do know that you are a good person, and that Nonnie will always be with all of us and she will never be forgotten, and if you're reading this Quannie, im sorry that your sister is no longer physically with us, but she will always be here in spirit!

Love. Aishah......BKA da white girl (IESHA)

Posted by: Aisha | September 10, 2006 12:30 PM

Nonnie I Know Things Will Never Be The Same Again Without U Here With Us Till This Very Day I Still Cant Believe It Wasnt U I Love You Very Much And I Will Never Forget U. R.I.P Jajuana B.K.A Nonnie And To All Those Who Had Got Injured My Sisters Tavare And Krstal Who Was There And Had To Experiene Such A Terrible Accident Im Always Here For The Both Of U If Ya Need Someone To Talk To. I Love Ya Too.

Krystal Retells The Story

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