New Haven Independent

“We Were Just Bystanders”

by Melissa Bailey | August 2, 2006 8:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)

Two days after being shot in the head while riding bikes home from a carnival, 13 year-old Justus Suggs lay clinging to life in a coma at New-Haven Hospital Tuesday. These young boys, one of whom barely escaped a bullet himself, grappled with their friend’s condition — and their own — in an emotional bedside visit.

In the scorching midday heat, five boys walked up to Yale New-Haven’s Children’s Hospital on Howard Avenue Tuesday afternoon, led by a mentor from the Hill named Blest (below at left). Sitting on a wall outside the hospital, Justus’ mother, Tracey Suggs (pictured below at right), waited to welcome the boys.

Suggs had been holding vigil over her son ever since the horror of Saturday night, when a gunman sprayed bullets at Justus and a small group of friends who were biking home from a carnival at Career High School in the Hill.

Outside the hospital, talk still buzzed around what had happened Saturday. Suggs had heard that another boy, also 13, had been shot in the hand that night. She recounted her own tale: She sent Justus to the carnival with friends after he’d spent the day fixing up a dirt bike. Around 10 p.m., Suggs was at home on Davenport Avenue at the computer, listening to music, when she heard a bunch of kids “yelling and banging on the door. ‘Justus needs you, he’s shot!’” The next moments seemed a blur: She raced to Sylvan Avenue. Cops had already cordoned the area off. She tried to get through. “This is a crime scene — step back,” a cop told her. The cop tried to stop her, pushed her back. That’s when things got “crazy.” “I just really wanted to get to him.”

Since then, she’s been by Justus’ bedside. Outside the hospital Tuesday, she stood surrounded by family, well-composed. She kissed a group of cousins goodbye and led the five visiting boys, friends of Justus’ from the Hill, through the revolving hospital door.

In the air-conditioned hospital lobby, a woman told the boys what to expect: Justus is on life support. He can’t move. Just go in and tell him who you are. Try not to touch him too much: Germs might give him an infection.

The group — the boys, Blest and a friend, Tracey Suggs and a couple family members — filed into an elevator. It stopped on an upper floor. As the visitors walked quietly to Justus’ room, someone stopped at a hallway dispenser for a squirt of hand sanitizer.

The boys filed into Justus’ private room, lit by one large window. Sitting in chairs along his bedside, they looked at their friend. Justus lay on his side on the bed, breathing steadily through tubes taped to his face. His head was wrapped in gauze, turning red in places. A sign above the bed read: “Bone removed from R side of back of skull. Do not lay on R side.”

For a while, no one spoke. Beeps from monitors broke through the room. After a few moments, tears emerged from one boy’s eyes. “That’s right, let those emotions out,” said Blest, relieved at the sight. “I was just scared that this was just too normal for you guys.”

Over the last two months, the few blocks near Justus’ house have seen three shootings. Several recent shootings across the city, including the one that killed 13 year-old Jajuana Cole, have been attributed to turf wars. Blest, a Hill activist and rapper who’s working with teens at a Hill summer camp, knows the kids from the neighborhood. He said the kids in the room weren’t staying out on the streets at night getting mixed up in gangs. Justus himself spent most of his time with one of the boys, Aaron, his “assistant,” fixing bikes and catching fish. But like any teen, they could be susceptible to the influence of older kids later down the road.

Blest asked how they felt. “Sad,” came a response. The others stayed quiet. Blest urged them to think about what they were feeling. “This is reality. Not one more mother should have to feel this pain. Not one more. Any of yous — I can’t handle another one of yous lyin’ in this bed.”

The boys stayed quiet as Tracey Suggs stood over her child, fixing his blanket and bending down to kiss his face and say “I love you.” An aunt patted his leg. “Jesus bless you.”

“Pull through this, man,” said Blest. “There’s a bunch of engines waitin’ to be built, a bunch of fish waitin’ to be fried — you catch ‘em, we’ll fry ‘em up!”

Suggs said the boy’s state has been stable. “It’s just now a decision to take him off the breathing machine.” She’s been spending hours by his bedside, talking to him and playing his favorite CD’s on headphones pressed to his ear.

“Go talk to him,” an aunt urged the boys. “Just tell him that ‘I love you’ — that’s all you can say.” The boys stood up, one by one, and spoke quietly to their friend. “Hey Justus.” “It’s me.” They filed out down the hall.

Outside in the rush of heat, no one wanted to talk much. Some worried that their pictures would be in the newspaper. A 13 year-old boy who gave his first initial as “S” (pictured below at left), folded up against the wall outside the hospital entrance, agreed to tell his account of Saturday night.

He’d been riding down Sylvan Avenue with Justus away from the carnival. “There were three of us” on bikes. Some other people nearby were watching two dogs quarrel on the street. “We were just bystanders, then Justus got shot in the head.” One of the bullets put a hole through S’s shorts, barely missing him.

“I saw Justus on the ground and I called the paramedics.” He had no idea why the shots flew. “I didn’t see nobody. All I heard was shots.”

Tuesday was S’s second visit to the hospital. “I feel sad — make me wanna hurt somebody.” What would he say to kids fighting turf wars? “Leave guns, weapons, everything, anything that’s illegal alone ‘cause it’s not right killin’ people.” Like a couple of his friends, S didn’t want to have his picture published, at first.

Blest called him over. Why? he asked. You don’t want kids to see you standing up? “You run away from the positive.” Don’t be afraid.

“It’s about standing up for Justus.” S and his friend, Chris, nodded in consent.

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Comments

Posted by: Darnell | August 2, 2006 10:24 AM

Sad

WE must protect these kids.

Posted by: bill | August 2, 2006 1:01 PM

once again the independent proves it is the only real news publication in the city.

Posted by: candice | August 2, 2006 7:39 PM

this is my friends cousin i think it's ridiculous this shouldn't be happening

Posted by: Julie | August 4, 2006 7:11 AM

WOW... very good portrayal/article. Well done. My heart breaks for Justus, his family and friends. I had tears streaming down my face while reading this article and then just hearing on the news that this boy would be taken off of life support today. So sad, so tragic, so senseless... May God bless you all and bring peace to your wounded hearts. I'm so very sorry for you all. I'll be praying for you.

Posted by: dana | August 4, 2006 1:03 PM

My heart goes out to Mrs. Suggs. No one should have to live in fear, as she and her boys have in their neighborhood.

What can we do? I really am no expert. But I tend to think that getting nearly all the guns off the street should be our number one police priority. Then these silly beefs could remain just words and fists. Kids, especially boys, have been fighting over turf for generations. My father told me of threats he endured as teenager in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the 1930s. Scary and unpleasant as that was, he suffered (and gave out) no more than punches. Boys haven't changed that much over the years; only the weapons have. Shouldn't we, therefore, concentrate on removing the weapons?

Posted by: KATHI | August 4, 2006 3:49 PM

THESE ARE KIDS KILLING KIDS I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I PRAY TO GOD EVERYDAY TO GIVE THE MOMS STRENGTH. MAYBE JUSTUS' MOM WILL TALK TO OTHER KIDS THAT GUNS ARE NOT THE ANSWER, ONLY AN END TO A PRECIOUS LIFE.

Posted by: Zeany | August 8, 2006 12:39 PM

After the child told you he was afraid to have his photo and name in the paper, what made you think it was ok to show him talking on his cell phone? We need to protect these children from each other. This is shameful reporting.

Posted by: Debbie | August 9, 2006 12:26 PM

Dear Sweet Angel Justus,

The good Lord has decided to call you home. A bit too soon, but you are home and safe in his loving care. Watch over your family and friends & and help them to know that you are smiling again & you are whole.

Rest In Peace Little Angel,
Debbie

Posted by: keonia | August 9, 2006 2:43 PM

You would never think in a million years that we as parents would be buring our children at such a young age they are suppose to see us at rest, Justus god has called you home sweet heart to a much better place. my sympathy and blessings is with you and your family.

rest in peace honey,
keonia

Posted by: Moira | August 9, 2006 4:15 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Suggs and her family. My heart broke this morning to see the news of his death several stories below the primary returns on WTNH.com. DeStefano wins! No. No one wins when children are shot to death.

Posted by: drew | August 9, 2006 7:18 PM

First off let me send my condolences out the family. This is and all too familiar story. When are we going to get off our butts and do something? I'm 36 years old and have seen 70 years of bull. We should all be ashamed of ourselves everytime one of us is gunned down like buffalo. If you're not part of the solution then you're part of the problem. Myself included!

Posted by: p | August 10, 2006 12:48 AM

this is too sad. i never thought the little boy that lived around the corner from me would die so young and at the hands of gang violence

Posted by: Todd(chocolatontop) | August 11, 2006 12:00 AM

My man Justus, You were a funny,lovable and respectable young man. From the day I met you I knew you were a decent young man. Knowing that you are gone hurts my heart, however you are in a better place now, not having to worrying about the silliness of the streets anymore. Tray, to you and the rest of your family, may God bless you and keep you safe.

Posted by: TRACEY SUGGS | August 11, 2006 12:45 AM

FIRST OFF LET ME THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT FOR MY SON AND FAMILY. THIS IS THE SADIEST AND HARDIEST MOMENT IN MY LIFE. A MOMENT I PRAYED I WOULD NEVER ENCOUNTER AS A MOTHER. I FEARED FOR BOTH MY CHILDREN EVERYDAY. BECAUSE THE TURF VIOLENCE IN MY AREA CONTINUED TO GROW DAY BY DAY. I PRAY AND PRAYED EVERY NIGHT AND DAY THAT THESE KIDS WOULD WAKE UP AND ASK THEMSELVES WHY. WHY AM I SO ANGRY AT SOMEONE I DONT KNOW? WHY AM I PICKING UP THIS GUN I HAVE NO BUSINESS WITH IN THE FIRST PLACE? HOW COULD I EVEN THINK TO FIRE A GUN AT ANYONE POSSIBLY INJURYING OR EVEN KILLING SOMEONE? WHY ?WOULD I WANT TO PUT SOMEONES MOTHER OR PARENTS THROUGH SOMETHING I NEVER WANT MY OWN MOTHER OR PARENTS TO GO THROUGH. WHY? JUST TO MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF FOR FRIENDS THAT ARENT REALLY MY FRIENDS. WELL IM ASKING AS A MOTHER OF A SON THAT BECAME A VICTIM OF YOUR SENSELESS VIOLENCE THAT SAME QUESTION . WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? HOW COULD YOU HAVE SUCH DISREGUARD FOR SOMEONES LIFE? THESE QUESTIONS GO OUT TO THOSE KIDS THAT MAY BE READING THIS THATS WALKING AROUND WITH THESE GUNS. OR HAVE IN THIER MINDS THEY WANT TO BE ONE OF THESE KIDS TO CARRY A GUN.THESE STREETS DONT BELONG TO YOU. YOU HOLD NO DEEDS AND NO RIGHT TO CLAIM WHATS NOT YOURS. AND THAT INCLUDES MY SONS LIFE AND ANY OTHER MOTHERS CHILDS LIFE. THESE THINGS DONT BELONG TO YOU. MY SON BELONGED TO ME. AND YOU CLAIMED HIM. AGAIN I SAY THAT TO ANY KID OUT THERE CARRYING A GUN. I READ IN ONE PERSONS COMMENT THEY HOPE I WILL SPEAK OUT TO OTHER KIDS TO STOP THE VIOLENCE. TO THAT PERSON I PLAN TO REACH OUT TO AS MANY KIDS AS I CAN WHEN I CAN. GUNS ARE TO BE CARRIED BY POLICE OFFICERS PROTECTING THE STREETS AND SOLIDERS FIGHTING WARS. NOT BY KIDS THAT SHOULD PICKING UP BOOKS,PLAYING AND BEING KIDS. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL THOSE PARENTS AND SINGLE MOTHERS OUT THERE. THAT YOU NEVER EVER HAVE TO INDURE THE PAIN IM GOING THROUGH. AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE I EMBRACE YOU WITH A HUG. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. TRACEY SUGGS MOTHER OF JUSTUS SUGGS.

Posted by: wynnie | August 12, 2006 8:04 AM

No one will ever know your pain and agony at heart you are enduring.I myself have a teenage son and when I heard the news I became very sadden.
All there was for me to say is that God knew what was best.
I say to you Tracey look to the hills for whence cometh your health,your health cometh from the Lord.
Don't worry this senseless tragedy is for you to get closer with the high almighty.
I am not only messaging to you but to myself we as mothers must grab a hold of our streets. We must be firm believers in knowing that our children are gifts from God and when he is ready to take them home he will whether it be now or later.
Continue to pray because for those ones that were responsible for Justus death God will have no sympathy. If you read the book of Leviticus it speaks of his commandments and you will be surprised once reading this book on how real God is.
Peace stay unto you and your loved ones

Posted by: Aishah- Afriend of Thaddeus | August 31, 2006 2:19 PM

hey i just wanted to say that although i didnt know Justus im am tremendously sorry for everything that happened. i have been praying nonstop for both his and Jauana's souls, they were angels that just happened to leave before we expected, but god always makes the right choice, and for his mother, just stay in prayer, i am so sorry you had to go through what you did, and S, im also sorry that you witnessed the brutal murder of your friend, stay in prayer, and Justice will be served for Justus!
With Love;
Aishah Jenkins

Posted by: no name | September 6, 2006 7:24 PM

i really know how it feels to feel such pain and im sorry for your loss but i was reading the news paper one day and i was reading about how the had ROUT boy in custody and as i was reading it says that his story has changed from what it was before and all do respect and i speak on what hasnt been spoken out loud i think that there should be more put into this case because eventough you have someone to blame that doesnt make matters right. as a unit there needs to be more effort put into this case also how everyone hears the same stories on this situation believe it or not but the streets are talking and i speak on behalf, so as others, that we need to put everthing together and do what needs to be done.

Posted by: yoshean agron | September 12, 2006 7:49 PM

loving memories for justus and to all people leave everything thats is bad is dont listen to bad music beacuse it get people hipe up rip justus

Posted by: cedick justus big bro | January 2, 2007 4:35 PM

hi this is the same boy that got shot in his head and i be wit his mother all the time can u put this up there to my name is cedrick a.k.a wet-cat from the hill i miss him and i wa s there i was the boy in the newspaper wit his mother i just want to say i love him and i miss him im crying so i have to stop writeting right now rip j i love u bro

“We Were Just Bystanders”

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