An Omaha mom grieving her son’s murder visited her son’s grave site for the first time ever on the ninth anniversary of her son’s death.
On March 30th, 2008, 19-year-old Percy Walker was trying to break up a female fight in a crowd at 29th Street and Camden Avenue when someone started shooting. Two bullets hit Walker – he later died at the hospital. His killer was never caught.
Since 2008, Walker’s mother, Laritha Sweatte learned when your child dies, pain lives.
On Thursday evening, Walker’s friends and family, including his siblings and children he left behind, walked to his tombstone to release 9 blue balloons, one for each year he has been gone in his favorite color. Sweatte says she felt her son smiling down at them.
“It took me nine years to get here but I’m here. Oh my God,” said Sweatte as she touched her son’s grave for the first time. “Hey baby, mama’s here.”
Walker’s dad and other family members visit Walker at least a dozen times a year, especially on the anniversary of his death for a balloon release.
“It makes my heart hurt when I come out here. Never in a million years did I think I would come out to visit my son’s grave,” says Percy Walker Sr. “I never thought I’d outlive my oldest son.”
“I’m so happy I came today. Seeing him for the first time in nine years makes me so happy. I feel like I was reborn,” adds Sweatte.
Sweatte says seeing her son has given her hope. And hopes this will be the year Omaha Police can finally make an arrest in the murder of her son.
“I’m free now. Seeing my son set me free. Now I can start my journey to getting his case done,” said Sweatte.
