One family’s nightmare

On Nov. 20, we will commemorate an anniversary. It will be one year since our son, Lawrence Jones Jr., was killed on a street in Baltimore, Md. He was shot in the head and left to die on the sidewalk just down the street from where he lived. At least three people witnessed the murder of our son. Yet, a year later, no one has been arrested for this cold-blooded killing.

We have appealed to many government officials for help, including President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno. On Aug. 10, Clinton’s office responded to us, stating that the president appreciated “the trust and confidence” we showed in him by writing.

After we received the letter from Clinton’s office, we followed up by writing directly to Reno. On Sept. 15, we received a letter from the Department of Justice telling us that our son’s case is not “a matter that would provide a basis for federal intervention.”

Where do we turn for help now in solving our son’s murder? If the highest officials of our government cannot — or will not — help, who will? Our nation is about to spend more than $30 billion to fight crime. What crimes? If a crime with three eyewitnesses that costs an innocent man his very life cannot be solved, why are the taxpayers spending this astronomical amount of money? And what of justice? Where is the justice for our son, an innocent victim killed for a gold ring and a small amount of money? Where is the justice for us, his parents, who are left with nothing except heartache and frustration with the system we have always supported?

I am Korean by birth. My Korean custom teaches that if a person dies as a result of violence, his soul wanders without rest until the perpetrators of the violence are punished. I cannot rest or go on with my own life until my son’s murderers are convicted.

This situation is our family’s own private nightmare. However, our story may, sadly, one day be your family’s story. Before that day arrives we ask you: What can we do to ensure that our system is more responsive to those of us who support it? Lawrence Jones Sr. Yong Jones, Bangor