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“Tears Of Joy” A Mother Reacts After An Arrest Is Made Months After The Death Of Her Son

Posted at 10:52 PM, May 09, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-09 22:52:18-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (May 9, 2014) – Jackie Kelley said she burst into tears after learning that Grand Rapids Police made an arrest for the murder of her son, Dominick Floyd.

“I just want to know, why?” she said.  “I just want to look at this young man and ask him, why?”

Floyd was shot and killed outside of New York Fried Chicken near the corner of Franklin and Division on Halloween of 2013.  On Friday, Grand Rapids Police announced they had arrested two people in connection with that death.

Lawrence Scott will be charged with murder of Floyd and Juwan Mosley-James will be charged with shooting from a vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon.

Floyd was one of two people shot and killed outside the restaurant that night.  Police say Delorian Taylor was shot as he attempted to rob another person.  Police say Floyd was shot on the other side of the parking lot.

Police Captain Jeffery Hertel said surveillance cameras played a big role in making the arrest.

“We had great video from the parking lot of the shooting itself,” he said.  “That led to some identification of some who were in the parking lot.  We talked to those people and they gave us statements of what they saw.”

While the news of an arrest brings Kelley some comfort, the pain of loss is something she is too familiar with.

“It’s a feeling that you can’t get out of you,” she said.  “When you think about your child it’s an ache.”

Kelley lost her first son Kwaze Kelley to gun violence on August 9, 1999.  Police continue to search for a killer in that case.

Given all that Kelley has been through recently, the news of the arrest came when she needed a bit of good news in her life.

The shooting death of Floyd on Halloween was the last time there was a homicide in Grand Rapids.  Kelley can’t help but think that her son’s death has made an impact.

“Dominick left a message on this earth,” said Kelley.  “Put those guns down.”

Scott and Mosley-James are expected to be arraigned on their charges next week.  Both men are being held on unrelated charges.