Raymen Justice

Oakland Teen Killed in Shooting

Teen victim identified in fatal Oakland shooting


Slain Oakland Teen Was Interested In Biotech

17 year old Oakland slaying victim wanted to help people, dad says


...as the days pass, headlines are now showing up on the Internet. It wasn't the case that night. The Oakland Tribune reported the incident but released no names. It was ridiculous for me to think that as long as no name was printed, this wasn't real. Text messages and phone calls confirmed it, but until it was on the news, I pretended there was no way... It could be Raymen.

One text message
changed everything.

September 21, 2010
I was at the Daus-Magbual home. I went along with Gel to see friends. The plan that evening was to celebrate another homie's birthday. I was meeting the group at 11, so I thought it would be nice to chill with some PEP family for an hour.

At 9:12PM I get a text from Manny that says,
idk if u heard the news,
we lost one.
I hold my breath and text back, "What?!" My phone rings again, "Raymen Justice." I remember shaking. I remember the faint sounds of my PEP family asking me what's wrong.

"Michelle... are you okay?"
"What's going on?"
"What happened? Sis??"

I don't respond.
The only thing on my mind is calling Lukas.

He picks up "Shelle..." his voice is faint. His tears are the only thing I feel. "Lukas, is it true?" The room goes dark. "Yes." We cry together and the world, me in it, is never going to be the same again.

I'm leaving the titles of the articles here. I'm leaving some photos too. I can't figure out what will make things better. I go in and out of knowing. I'll hit publish. I wonder if this makes it "real."


I'm leaving this song by Lyrics Born to remember there's got to be, SOMETHING BETTER.