Vigil held remember father, 4-month-old son killed in Monroe shooting, police say

MONROE, N.C. — A man and 4-month-old boy killed in a shooting on May 29 were remembered during a candlelight vigil Friday night.

Darion McClendon, 25, and his son, Da’mari McClendon were found dead after authorities responded to a shooting just after 10 p.m. to a home on Morrow Avenue in Monroe.

The community later held a candlelight service at Creft Park in Monroe.

“My nephew, he is a baby. He don’t even know how to do anything for himself,” said Jasmine McClendon, Darion’s sister.

Neighbor David Johnson said he was with another neighbor the night of the killing, talking with a police officer when someone speaking on a two-way radio announced that a 4-month-old was killed.

“When me and the neighbor heard that, we stepped back. The officer couldn’t reveal no information but it broke his heart too. He stepped back. He took a pause from the (conversation) and he stepped back,” Johnson said.

A neighbor told Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura that officers roped off a whole block for hours while they investigated the shooting. Bullet holes could still be seen inside a house and some of the cars parked in front Monday morning.

Officers said a 9-year-old and an 11-year-old were also inside of the home when the shooting started.

They told officials that they are still traumatized by what they witnessed.

“This is a very difficult time for our community and our officers in the face of this senseless act of violence. We are committed to bringing the perpetrator of this crime to justice. If anyone has any information, please come forward. We need people in the community to help us in this process,” said Monroe Police Chief Bryan Gilliard.

Jasmine told Kustura that the whole family is heartbroken.

“That was my best friend, that was my dog. We have the same daddy that we just lost a few years ago, so that’s the only thing I have left of him. And now it’s just me and my two other sisters,” Jasmine said.

Darion left behind another son, who is just 2 years old.

Police are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Monroe Police Department at 704-282-4700 or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600.

“I’m hurt. I really just want answers. I really just want my brother and my nephew to have justice,” Jasmine said.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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