July 20--A year after a stray bullet tore through a wall and killed 11-year-old Shamiya Adams as she ate s'mores at a sleepover, dozens of family and friends released balloons near the West Side home where she was killed.
"We love you Shamiya," they shouted into the sky behind the balloons before several people broke into tears in each other's arms.
The remembrance in the 3900 block of West Gladys Avenue in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood was "good but bad," according to Nykeemah Johnson, 12, a friend of Shamiya's who said she was in the home when Shamiya was shot.
"Because I wish she could be here," a tearful Johnson said.
During the prayer service and vigil, Johnson buried her face in the chest of Shamiya's great-grandmother, Louraine Miller, who pleaded for an end to the violence.
"Shamiya died for no apparent reason," said Miller, 67. "I think it's important that we keep Shamiya's memory alive."
After the vigil, Miller recalled that the little girl was obsessed with tuna.
Adrianna Heard, 14, recalled how her friend used to love "bopping" and sang Shamiya's favorite song.
"I used to like her smile," Heard said. "She was so pretty and nice and caring and loving."
Community activist Andrew Holmes and members of "Chicago Survivors," a group that helps families live beyond violent loss, helped lead the service.
"It affects everybody," said Milagros Burgos, 53, whose daughter Alexandria Burgos was shot and killed in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood last fall. "People don't know that when they hurt one person, they're hurting the whole community."
The last time Miller saw Shamiya was a week before she was killed.
"I got a chance to hold her and kiss her and hug her," she said. "If I had known it was going to be my last time, I would've held on a little longer."
Miller tries to be strong for the other children in the family, including Shamiya's twin.
"It's hard because like in the beginning, I would go to bed crying and get up crying," Miller said, "but God has helped me, and I don't cry every day now."
mmrodriguez@tribpub.com
