CMPD Goes Extra Mile for Young Victims Left Motherless, Homeless
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It is, for most of us, impossible to imagine: your mother, murdered in front of you, the man who did it then sets fire to your family home. That’s what Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say happened last month, at a home on Harpley Court in east Charlotte. Two daughters escaped the horrific scene: one, 21-years-old, the other, 8. The girls had no one and nothing except the clothes on their back. Their mother was Tamika McClelland. Police say the suspect, Halim Stovall, also died that day.
“Basically you just gotta put yourself in their shoes. What if that was (sic) my kids,” says Hickory Grove Division Officer Harlan Proctor. He, along with Officers Scott Evett and Ashley Brown, contacted the Target on Albemarle Road and secured clothes, toys and gift cards. They also made personal donations. Brown tears up as she says, “My daughter happens to be the same size as the 8-year-old, so, she went through her closet and went through her drawers and got some things of hers to donate.”
“After the crime scene tape comes down, that’s not the end of what we do,” says the officer’s supervisor, Lt. Rob Childs.
In addition to the officer’s extra efforts, neighbors are rallying around the sisters. TaShemna Kinney says, “We will always be here for them if they ever need anything, they can always come to our street for help.” Another neighbor, Laura Castello says, “We all chip in and do whatever needs to be done to help each other.”
The 21-year-old daughter now has to take care of her 8-year-old sister as well as a 2-year-old brother. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help them. So far, less than $2,600 have been raised. If you can help, go to:http://www.gofundme.com/t7fv28
