Calls For Peace Fill Candlelight Vigil

Fifty friends, family, neighbors and local boxers joined city officials outside of the Ring One boxing gym in the Hill for a candlelight vigil commemorating the life of Dayshon Smith.

What started as a personal remembrance of a unique and remarkable individual quickly turned into a community discussion about how to stop gun violence in the city, and how to build a stronger and safer community.

That vigil took place Thursday night outside the gym at 790 Congress Ave.

Smith, a 28-year-old champion amateur boxer, used to train at the gym, before he was killed and five others were injured amidst gunfire on Rosette Street last Saturday.

Speakers cried out Thursday for New Haveners to let Smith’s death serve as a tragic turning point towards peace and safety during a year that has already seen 14 homicides.

Terry Davis, Smith’s uncle, said a change needs to be made in order to prevent further street violence.

“This is a wonderful turnout but his death has to mean something. It needs to make a difference,” Davis said. ​“A change must be made. It starts with us.”

Coach Brian Clark, who runs Ring One and trained Smith, pointed out that death should not be the only reason to reunite.

“The reason we are here right now is because of Dayshon and his daughter,” he said. ​“A lot of times, crimes make no sense. This one made absolutely no sense. I see a bunch of people tonight that I haven’t seen in years all because of Dayshon and that’s great, but lets do it a different way.”

Clark asked everyone, mainly Smith’s peers, not to take matters into their own hands.

“Please, let the police do their job,” he said. ​“They’ll maximize the crime, they’ll get the right charge, and they’ll put the person in jail. Perpetuating another act of violence doesn’t stop anything. Do you want to look over your shoulder all of the time? No. They’ll put the person in prison.”

Longtime Hill community activist Ann Boyd, who attended school with Smith’s grandmother, said she was hurt to receive the call about the shooting.

“Until we bring unity in the community, not only in the Hill, but across this city, we’re going to be faced with the same dilemma as we’ve got right now,” Boyd said. ​“Unity in every community, as one.”

Tennille Murphy, Smith’s aunt, said her sister did everything to shelter Smith and his brothers from being involved in the streets.

“Dayshon had every reason to take his anger out on the world but he didn’t go out and say, ​‘My father wasn’t there. My mother died when I was a teenager. I’m mad at the world so I’m just going to take it out on everybody,’” Murphy said. ​“He was there to help raise his brothers. He was an excellent father. That comes from your mentality.”

Murphy listed off community organizations such as Ice The Beef and Guns Down, Books Up to encourage the crowd to actively form a stronger foundation. She said that young people in particular need more support while growing up to make that dream a reality.

“It starts from us. Nobody is going to save us. This is us. Right here,” Murphy said. ​“It’s sad because I have to say this, Black lives matter, but they’ve got to start mattering to us.”

“I Want The Young People To Live”

Mayor Justin Elicker identified with Smith’s family and friends by telling the crowd he wants the best for his daughters, just as anyone would want for their own family.

“Dayshon was able to keep it on track. You can’t say that for everyone in our community. My heart goes out to you. Anything that we can do to support you at this time. We can’t do this alone. It’s up to all of us,” Elicker said. ​“We are willing to work with you to make sure you have the opportunities and support that you need.”

Hill Alder Evelyn Rodriguez said that Ring One is a staple in mentoring local youth and that the place is defined by integrity. Throughout the vigil, she asked the youth to stay away from harm’s way.

“I want the young people to live. I want them to love themselves. I want them to know they have God-given gifts and talents,” Rodriguez said. ​“To think out of the box and to know that they’re not alone. We must all work together to come up with ways to help our young people and our young adults. To fight to live.”

Family and friends took time to focus directly on Smith and Ring One.

Richard Harris, Smith’s father, pointed to the backdoor of the gym telling the crowd that’s where anger was released for his son.

“He took his pain out in here,” Harris said. ​“He didn’t take it out on anybody in the streets. He wasn’t into no robbing, no stealing, not into any of that stuff. If this world had a lot of Dayshon in it, we wouldn’t be doing this a lot.”

“The Hill! United! Will Never Be Divided!”

At the end of the vigil, everyone was given a personal handheld candle.

Hill Alder Ron Hurt closed the ceremony out with prayer and by letting the crowd know that he’s proud to be a part of the Hill community and wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We’re serious about doing something about this,” Hurt said, during prayer.

After the prayer, the group took a moment of silence. They then chanted in unison with Hurt leading, ​“The Hill! United! Will never be divided!”

Tears continued to roll, but a sense of city pride consumed the atmosphere. Conversations and celebration extended for Dayshon until sunset.

Many family and friends took time to admire the red, white, and blue flower bouquet memorial gifted from USA Boxing, and pictures of Smith.

Joose Bogans, friend and Ring One training partner, said he had nicknamed Smith the ​“Dangerzone Smith” because once you were in reach of him, you were in the danger zone.

Bogans took the picture of Smith and his daughter that Clark is holding in the image above. He met Smith in 2012 and trained with him often.

“Dayshon encouraged me one time because I didn’t think I was good enough when I sparred. He said, ​‘No, it’s in your mind. It’s not about your power or your speed. It’s mentally. You can stand up and still go’, Bogans said. ​“Then when he watched me spar he said that I did very good cutting off the opponent in the ring.”

Cousin Tommy Carter Jr. spent time raising his 8‑year old son, Jaylean, alongside Smith’s 7‑year old daughter, Ezra. The two also often bonded over working out together, sparring, and discussing family life.

“I remember one time he had asked me to give him a ride out of town somewhere. He had messed up the date and the place was closed,” Carter Jr. said. ​“So we were just out there and we didn’t have anything to do so we stopped at the basketball courts and just played basketball, and just talked about our kids and families.”

Ariel Golding, a family friend, said Smith was an amazing cousin to not only Tommy Carter Jr., but everyone who crossed his path.

“Dayshon was an amazing, fun, loving jokester. Always laughing. Always cracking jokes. Always with his daughter. Wherever you saw him, you saw his daughter. Always taking her to the museum and the park,” Golding said. ​“He was so loved by his community. We’re really going to miss him.”

Funeral services for Dayshon Smith will be on Friday, August 28 at Trinity Temple Church on Dixwell Avenue at 10:00 a.m.