Answers sought to young Delaware mom's 'senseless death'
When Jordan Dominque Robinson Jr., asks questions about his mother’s death, Kisha Bailey wants to be certain she can give him answers.
Bailey is the mother of Keshall "KeKe" Anderson, a 2015 graduate of McKean High School who was fatally shot walking Sunday in the 200 block of W. 20th St. Bailey wants justice for Anderson's death so Jordan won't be left without answers about his mom.
Bailey says her daughter will never get to see her son’s his first steps, hear his first words, or get him ready for the first day of school.
She called the shooting a "senseless act" during remarks to a crowd of about 200 people at a vigil Wednesday night, and asked anyone responsible or withholding information about Anderson's death to step forward.
“Please don’t be quiet about it,” Bailey pleaded, holding her grandson. “Don’t let his mother’s death go in vain.”
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Police suspect Anderson and a 19-year-old man walking with her were caught in the crossfires of a shooting about 12:20 Sunday morning.
Anderson was struck in the back and later died. The man accompanying her was struck in the left leg and buttocks, according to Wilmington Police.
Anderson, a young woman described as “young and vibrant” with so much life ahead of her, became Wilmington’s 18th homicide this year. Police say it's likely Anderson was an innocent bystander.
At Wednesday's vigil, the attendees celebrated the life of Anderson by calling for an end to gun violence in Wilmington.
The festive celebration of life delivered a stern message: justice for Keke.
Along with friends and family, the ThunderGuards motorcycle club attended the vigil. One of its members, Bam Bam Anderson, is Keshall Anderson's uncle.
Kurtis Davis, national pastor for the ThunderGuards, also spoke to the crowd.
“It doesn’t make you a man to pull the trigger and then you run and hide,” Davis said. “Cowards run and hide."
He also called on those who may have information but haven't come forward to do so on behalf of Anderson's family.
“We as a community have to stop acting like it’s OK, I’m not going to get involved, it wasn’t me, it wasn’t my family, you never know where death is, you never know when it’s going to come, it may be you next time, it may be your family," Davis said. "She was 19-years-old, she hasn’t even begun to live life and now her child has to grow up and wonder when it’s time to go to school, why can’t mommy take me to school?
“Somebody has to explain to the child, ‘your mother was gunned down but it wasn’t meant for her.’” Davis said.
Louise Shelton, a member of Sweep the Streets – an organization that brings awareness to the community to reach out to officials with information regarding crimes in the city – believes the misconceived notion of snitching may be the root of the problem as to why no one has stepped forward.
“It’s not snitching,” she said. “Everyone has the snitching mentality wrong. Somebody saw something. And her (Anderson) family deserves justice.”
Few details have been released and no arrests have been made.
Wilmington investigators ask anyone with information to contact Detective Robert Fox at (302) 576-3619.
Tips may also be left at the Wilmington Police Anonymous Homicide Tip Line at (302) 576-3939 or contact Delaware Crime Stoppers.
Friends and family thanked everyone in attendance and challenged those to stay together and care for one another. The vigil ended with a release of balloons to the skies.
“K’s up,” Bailey yelled, as she smiled, one of the few smiles she had throughout the vigil.
Contact Alonzo Small at (302) 324-2856 or asmall@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @P_AlonzoSmall.