THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 29, 1995 TAG: 9512290556
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Mary Staton, 63, remembers more peaceful, caring times in Portsmouth, when neighbors trusted and looked out for each other and children played together safely on the streets.
``Our children didn't stand over each other with guns, pumping bullets into each other to get a few dollars to buy crack cocaine,'' Staton, 63, said Thursday before visiting her 29-year-old son who was shot and critically injured in an apparent robbery 10 days before Christmas.
She blames a drug culture, ``a trap that has been set for our children today.'' And she wants to see it destroyed ``before drugs enter our children's hands and guns enter our children's hands.''
And she is so adamant about wanting an end to the violence that she is pleading with her son's friends to not seek retribution.
``There has been enough blood shed already among our young people,'' said the victim's brother, Earl Harrell, 46.
Darryl M. Staton was shot about 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 as he left a friend's home in the 100 block of Project Drive.
``We have heard rumors of his friend's retaliating,'' Harrell said. ``He's a very popular young man, well liked and well respected. He has a lot of friends.''
Harrell said the rumors of planned retribution were confirmed by the victim's girlfriend.
``We've been walking the community, asking the young people not to retaliate, but to work within the system; not to retaliate, but to let the police do their job . . . let them separate the falsehood from the real evidence,'' Harrell said. ``The family believes very much that justice will prevail.''
Darryl Staton works in the family dry cleaning business, his mother said. She declined to discuss his medical condition other than to say that he remains in critical condition at a local hospital and that he has been unable to speak to her.
What led to his being shot, what motivated the attack, is unclear. ``I've never known him to be violent with anyone. I've never known him to argue with anyone. I've never known him to fight with anyone,'' she said. ``He's always been a boy on the street who was loved by everyone.''
The shooting of Staton comes near the end of a bloody year in Portsmouth that has seen the city post its highest number of killings ever, 37.
In response, the police department, City Council and civic groups are planning a public forum Jan. 20 to address crime-fighting strategies and how to improve the city's quality of life.
The ``crime summit'' will be held from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Hunt-Mapp Middle School, 3701 Willett Drive. Participants will brainstorm strategies to create a workable and effective plan between police, citizens, and local government agencies.
Mary Staton and Earl Harrell will be there, they said Thursday. ``The family is whole-heartedly behind the meeting,'' Harrell said.
Mary Staton hopes such efforts will return Portsmouth to times like the '60s. ``That's my thought and prayer that one day I'll be able to feel safe, to feel unity and love for one and other,'' she said. ``The only way to achieve this is to get drugs out of the neighborhoods. Drugs, drugs, drugs is the cause of all of it.''
Mary Staton realizes that her suffering has been experienced in many homes in recent years.
``As the mother of my son - for all mothers that have had their sons dropped to the ground by our own youth - I would like to say. . . .'' Her voice trailed off and she looked away for a moment, eyes closed. Then she raised a hand. Her voice returned, stronger.
``I would like to say, in the name of the Lord, please stop the killing and the shooting. Let's get rid of the drugs from our neighborhoods.
``We, as mothers, have grieved enough.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
RICHARD L. DUNSTON/The Virginian-Pilot
Mary Staton and son, Earl Harrell, are sure justice will prevail, if
allowed to take its course in the shooting of her son Darryl
Staton.
KEYWORDS: SHOOTING INJURIES ASSAULT by CNB