And while that is today's lawless act of violence, yesterday's was also very daring. 20 year-old Elroy Perdomo Jr. was shot 16 times by two gunmen who stalked him while he was moving along in a funeral procession.
As we reported, Perdomo was the main suspect in the murder of Marlon Bonner, but because police couldn't get any of the many eyewitnesses to come forward and formally point him out as the gunman, Perdomo could not be charged.
And so he was released at 11:00 am and less than 4 hours later, his killers took justice into their own hands and murdered him in cold blood and broad daylight. Today, we got an opportunity to have a very frank conversation with his mother, and she told us why he refused to stay home after police let him go, a decision which Southside Commander Chester Williams believes could have saved his life.
Here's how that conversation went:
Mother of Elroy Perdomo
"I know for a fact that this man who had passed away, the funeral he attended, was for one of his friends because I can remember clearly that he came home and said 'mom I need to go bathe, I have to go to a funeral', and I said 'Elroy come on you just got released from police custody you don't need to be out there worse with this accuse that they have with murder, stay home son', he said 'no mom my friend will feel disrespected, I need to be there for him'."
Daniel Ortiz
"Describe for us when you saw him at the hospital, what was going through your mind."
Mother of Elroy Perdomo
"Hurt, pain, to know that my son lies there breathless, I can't help or do anything for him. That's the end of it for me and my family, the pain just started. I finally realize and feel how other people feel now that it has come knocking on my door. As I have already described my kids as my chain that God has given me, God has given me 8 kids and I always use it was 8 links, if one breaks the chain isn't good again. Even if you weld it, you'll always know that something was wrong and that's the way I feel right now, that my chain had burst yesterday and it doesn't matter where I take it to be welded, my welder will be Jesus Christ who will be my comforter in all of this."
Daniel Ortiz
"The topic I very much loath to broach because it will come off as insensitive no matter now I ask it, but police say that he was only just released at 11 o clock yesterday and after being investigated as the main suspect in the weekend murder, I have to ask you ma'am, do you have any inkling or any suspicion that he may be involved with that crime in any way?"
Mother of Elroy Perdomo
"Of the shooting, sir I don't know, I know Elroy as the child that I've raised home. For me, anything at home Elroy is very obedient. Outside I don't know the personality that Elroy has, we know that a person has both personalities. At home they will portray one thing and outside they do something else. I will only go with what people tell me Elroy is doing, if someone comes and tells me 'Miss D, Elroy do this', when he comes home I will rail up with him and if I have enough proof I will get my machete and as old as he is at age 19 was the last beating he got, because I don't play. We already have life rough, I struggle to send them to school, Elroy dropped out of school and I just try. After meeting Candy he tried to change his life around, I'm not saying he was an angel, but for me he's always my child, even though has gone I just have to remember all the good things and good times we had at home."
Daniel Ortiz
"Did anyone ever come and tell you 'Miss Dana your son is involved in activities in which we can't condone, hanging with bad men who we know is dangerous', anything like that?"
Mother of Elroy Perdomo
"Yes sir, I won't lie, like I said I'm not that kind of parent who condone stupidity. Whenever people come to me and tell me those things I tell him 'Elroy everybody knows me and people know you, if you do something out there believe me before this week finishes I will find out'. I have has a couple complaints before like 'Miss D I saw Elroy doing this and that', whenever I see him I address it right away. I let him know 'Elroy is you do this you can't stay in my house I don't care what age you have, you can't stay here because you have your other brothers and sisters that you have to set examples for."
Perdomo leaves behind a 3 month-old daughter, a girlfriend, his parents and 7 siblings.
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