CMPD, community remembers crime victims

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The new CMPD Chief Estella Patterson and community members honored violent crime victims at the annual tree lighting ceremony. The ceremony supports families while reminding the community of the impact of crime.

A room full of families gathered around the Christmas tree at Freedom division. The holidays look a lot different for families whose loved ones were killed in violent crimes.

Twenty eight year old Sumer Massey was shot and killed on March 1st, she left behind a four year old daughter. A convicted felon is now facing murder charges for her death.

“You close your eyes and your baby there, and in the blink of an eye your child gone,” Lakeisha Hampton, Massey’s mother said. “I don’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

Masey is one of dozens of victims honored at CMPD’s annual tree lighting ceremony. Chief Patterson spoke to the crowd of victim’s families as their faces scrolled across a screen. Each family said their loved one’s name aloud and hung an ornament on the tree in their honor.

“You know that’s someone that lost a mother or father, sister, brother and that’s really hard to know that they have that many more years that they’re going to have to continue to go with that pain,” CMPD Sergeant Ricky Robbins said.

CMPD says they host the event to bring together survivors, law enforcement and community members to show support while families grieve.

“When you lose a loved one, this is a long process, not only from the day you lose them from years to come, and especially going through the court process,” Sgt. Robbins said.

Massey’s case is still ongoing and her family still struggles to understand why she was taken so soon.

“I didn’t get to tell her bye. I didn’t get to have a conversation with her prior or even say, I love you and or anything like that,” Hampton said. “Put [the guns] down, and I hate to say this, but don’t trust everybody, put your trust in God and [ask him] to help you make the right decisions of who you’re around.”

CMPD will take the ornaments from the tree at the Freedom division to display on the tree at Uptown Headquarters. The tree will be on display until the end of the holiday season.