Son killed by LA gang, Sgt. Anita Shaw was serving in Iraq

The Saga of Sgt. Anita Shaw

Soldier Reflects on the Killing of Her Son by Gang Member

New America Media/Our Weekly , News feature, Shirley Hawkins, Posted: Jun 12, 2009

Editor's Note: In its commitment to ethnic and communities of color and to developing new coverage models, New America Media, supported by the McCormick Foundation, is using Los Angeles to tell the emotional and often wrenching stories of what happened when veterans came home and found no jobs, red tape and their own demons and inner turmoil.

As a pioneer in forging ethnic-mainstream media partnerships, NAM brought together reporters from three ethnic media -- Sing Tao Daily, La Opinion and Our Weekly -- and the Los Angeles Daily News. This is one of their stories.

A year has passed since the death of 17-year-old Jamiel Shaw Jr., the promising high school athlete who was gunned down by a gang member in South Los Angeles.

A popular young man with a charismatic personality, Jamiel Shaw Jr.’s trophies and medals still adorn the mantel of the quiet 5th Street Avenue home in Arlington Heights. A day before the anniversary of his son’s death, Sgt. Anita Shaw, a veteran of two tours of Iraq, and her husband, Jamiel Shaw Sr., reflected on their son whose future held so much promise.

For Sgt. Anita Shaw, the irony of serving her country in war torn Iraq while her son was killed on the streets of Los Angeles is still a painful memory.

“When the military told me my son had been killed, my mind went blank,” recalls Anita. “My commander had gotten a message from the Red Cross that my son had been killed. I was given emergency leave. I boarded a flight on Kuwait International and cried all the way home.”
go here for more
The Saga of Sgt. Anita Shaw