ELK GROVE, Calif — Following the death of a 10-year-old Sacramento boy, an Elk Grove family wants to raise awareness about kids and guns. It's been six months since a robbery turned fatal in a South Sacramento neighborhood and his family is still fighting for justice.
Along with the memories, an 8x10 box is all Melody Davis has left of her 19-year old son, Mactavious Garren. The holidays were difficult for the family.
"Some moments over Thanksgiving where I just had to take a minute and say, he's not over there. He's not blessing the food with us," said Vanessa Fulcher, Garren's aunt.
According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, Garren was shot and killed on July 4 at a South Sacramento apartment complex. Officials said Garren had a gun that didn't work and planned to meet a 15- and 16-year-old at the apartment for a trade. To this day, Davis said it's hard to believe her son even owned a weapon.
"I can't imagine him even holding a gun, just because of his nature. Like, he drove a scooter," Davis recalled.
When Garren got to the apartment, he was robbed and then shot. The sheriff's office said the 15-year-old was charged with murder while the 16-year-old was charged with robbery.
"I'm hoping that somebody steps up and says ''Enough is enough,' that 'I'll testify. I'll speak out,' because these murders are senseless," Davis said.
Now, Davis is in and out of court continuing to fight for justice for her son. With the recent shooting death of a Sacramento County 10-year-old, the family said something needs to be done to stop the youth-on-youth gun violence, no matter how young they may be.
"I would want.. for them to get help, for them to understand that what they did was wrong, for there to be true remorse," Fulcher said.
Through months of reflection, Davis admits she's not sure what she would tell parents now, especially parents of young people with weapons.
"When they start making adult decisions, you really can't just watch them every moment anymore. You can't say 'No' to everything. You can't say no, you can't have a car because yes, they can. They pay taxes now," Davis said.
However, she believes the most important thing parents can do is to communicate, hoping it'll save countless lives.
"Talk to your kids. We're not meant to be their best friends. We're meant to protect them. We're meant to be there for them," she said.
ABC10 reached out to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office to get an update on this case, but did not hear back by time of publication.
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