Highland Park leader's son fatally shot: 'The pain is indescribable'

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Losing a child is a pain no mother should feel. For Shamayim Harris of Highland Park, better known as "Mama Shu," it's a familiar pain. 

After the death of her 2-year-old son Jakobi Ra in 2007, Mama Shu decided to build the Avalon Village with her hands, her heart and her persistence. On a once-neglected Highland Park city block, her son’s legacy lives through a community space that helps children’s minds, bodies and souls grow through education and activities. 

However, on Tuesday, someone shot and killed her other son, 23-year-old Chinyelu Humphrey, right in the village that Mama Shu spent years developing as a safe haven for her community.

"It just feels like lightning striking twice. The first time Jakobi got killed, my 2-year-old, that was out-of-the-blue shock," Mama Shu said in a video statement. "But then now Chinyelu, my 23-year-old, it’s just I don’t know how to really, really describe it. Unfortunately, I’m familiar with the pain. However, I am coping.”

“We feel vulnerable over here, and I believe other people have suffered as well because of this same type of senseless act, and the pain is indescribable,” she said.

"Chinyelu is my second son that I lost. He was my fireball child; he was the brave heart. Chin had so much heart, he was loved, he loved children. Chin helped to build Avalon Village; he helped me. Chin was my protector. He was my partner.”

Highland Park Detective Paul Thomas worked the case when 2-year-old Jakobi Ra died in a tragic hit-and-run accident. The driver left Jakobi Ra to die under a streetlight, Mama Shu said in 2016 when she appeared on "The Ellen Show."

Thomas is now working on Humphrey’s case and said it has been difficult. Thomas said after Jakobi Ra’s death, he stayed in contact with the family and saw Mama Shu’s children grow up.

Thomas said he would see Humphrey doing work outside the village, which is located on Avalon Street, especially during the summer. Thomas and Humphrey would share a passing wave whenever they saw each other, he said. 

Thomas said the police caught and put the person who killed Jakobi Ra in jail. For Humphrey’s case, Thomas said they have a few suspects, and the shooting seems specifically targeted, but the investigation is ongoing. 

“When I heard about this, I was naturally shocked, but I've been here long enough to know that things like this happen,” Thomas said. “We're gonna work on it (the case) until we get a resolution. We're out here every day, and the people I work with, we especially want to see this resolved.”

In 2016, Mama Shu went on “The Ellen Show" to share her vision for the Highland Park block to be an educational and empowering oasis for residents. Ellen DeGeneres donated a 12-by-40-foot house, which is Mama Shu’s welcome center and business space.

Mama Shu cultivated a community center in an area that was dilapidated from economic hardship. Like forest trees that flourish after a fire, Mama Shu has no plans to stop the village that she has spent years growing. 

In a video statement, Mama Shu said Avalon Village will need to beef up its security, build up fences, install cameras and protect all children who use their services. 

“We’re still keeping it moving. None of that energy has stopped what we’re doing. None of that destructive energy will stop what’s going on here because we’re on a mission flat out," Mama Shu said. "But what you’re not going to do is harm the children and people here in Avalon Village nor in Highland Park, Michigan."

Mama Shu said she feels disrespected that an individual came to Avalon Village with the intention of killing her son. She said Humphrey helped with the summer camp program, maintained the village and loved the children. 

Avalon Village provides community members with homework tutoring, healthy meals and economic development initiatives for women. The village is a place for healing and celebration, the website states. 

Avalon Village is holding a GoFundMe to help pay for Humphrey's funeral and for installing security measures in the village. For those interested in donating, click here. 

Contact Slone Terranella: STerranella@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @SloneTerranella. 

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