On a sunny Monday afternoon, Jamail Johnson's family, friends, and Omega Psi Phi fraternity brothers gathered in front of Williamson Hall on Youngstown State University's campus to honor a life lost, one year later.
It was Feb. 6, 2011, when Johnson, 25, was killed and 11 others wounded in a mass shooting at an off-campus fraternity house.
"We'll remember Jamail E. Johnson for what he stood for. He was a peacemaker, a friend of mine, and he just stood for what was good here in Youngstown," said Joe Parker, a member of Omega Psi Phi.
Parker started the undergraduate fraternity chapter with Johnson and others back in 2009.
"It's important for the people to see that this senseless crime happened not only to somebody who didn't deserve to, but it's been happening around here a little too much," Parker said.
While Monday's walk was meant to remember Johnson, it also was about remembering other recent victims of homicide in the Youngstown area.
"There's 25 other families out here hurting and I don't know, I just think today was a good stepping stone together to where we need to be as a people, as a whole, as a community, as a city," said fellow fraternity brother Carl Davison.
During their walk through campus, participants stopped at a newly-planted tree behind the Kilcawley Center.
A small plaque in front of the tree pays tribute to Johnson's job as a peacemaker, especially the night of the shooting that killed him.
"Peace is love. There's love in everybody, but I think the example he set would be just to really show people the value of life and to show the ones that you love that you really love them," Davison said.
The walk ended at DeBartolo Hall with a brief ceremony and special presentation, which was a very emotional moment for many who attended.
"Jamail's heart would be so glad. Everything that you've heard and people have showed about Jamail, that is truly my son," said Shirlene Hill, Johnson's mother.
