TUCSON, Ariz. — The memory of 15-year-old Daydrian Raymond Brown was honored over the weekend during a celebration of life event, nearly two months after he was fatally shot at a house party. Family and friends gathered Saturday to remember Brown, who was killed in the early hours of July 6, sparking pleas for answers from those who loved him.
Since the tragedy, Brown’s family has been active in their search for justice, spreading flyers throughout Tucson, offering a reward for information about the shooting. Their efforts gained momentum recently with the arrest of 20-year-old Katraun Devon McLendon, who faces charges linked to Brown’s death. The Tucson Police Department confirmed the arrest on Friday.
Dahlia, Daydrian’s mother, expressed a tumult of emotions upon learning of the arrest. “I felt a little bit of relief because I was scared we would never get answers,” she said. Despite this development, she feels that justice remains incomplete, as she believes additional suspects should also be held accountable.
Witnesses reported that the incident was recorded on video, which has not been made public. Dahlia, who has viewed the footage, is adamant that another individual should face charges related to the shooting. “Knowing there’s two involved… I was so relieved they have somebody, and to me, we’re going to get the second guy,” she said.
Rayanne Graves, who described herself as Daydrian’s “honorary soccer mom,” echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that while the arrest offers some closure, true justice has yet to be served. “It puts a little relief there, knowing that we have some kind of closure, some kind of, like, hint of what happened,” she remarked.
Dahlia has committed herself to not only seeking justice for her son but also advocating for other families affected by gun violence. “We need to raise more awareness for ongoing cases,” she stated, referring to the unsolved murders of local individuals, including Randy Simmons and Nyzaiah Martinez. “For me, it felt like such an eternity, and for other parents to not have answers… It’s a nightmare.”
Maintaining contact with both the Simmons and Martinez families, Dahlia expressed hopes for justice for all three young men. Meanwhile, McLendon remains in custody, held on a bond set at $1 million. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 15, as the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of violence that took Daydrian’s life.