Javon Dawson's peers try to make sense of shooting

ST. PETERSBURG — In the two weeks since a police officer shot and killed Javon Dawson outside a rowdy graduation party, there have been headlines, protest speeches and police reports.

But Pastor Louis Murphy wanted to hear from a segment of the community that has remained behind the scenes — Javon's peers.

Murphy, pastor of Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, held a forum where young people could voice their concerns about everything from safety to their relationship with the police.

The discussion, held in a separate room from their parents, wasn't angry. It was more like a talk among friends that ventured from maintaining reputations to avoiding fights.

On June 7, Officer Terrence Nemeth shot Dawson after the teen pointed a gun at him outside a party, according to authorities. Dawson's family and community members have refuted the Police Department's claims.

"I see little young, 5 or 6 year olds, coming around with BB guns and you look at these young kids like, 'They fittin' to end up being like their older brother or daddy,' " said Roman Elkahly, a 17-year-old Gibbs High School student who is enrolled in Gulfport's junior police academy program.

But Chiriga Murphy, 24, a forum moderator, asked whether police could have done something other than shoot Dawson.

"Point blank, when a gun is pointed at you, even if you are not a police officer, you going to be scared," Elkahly said. "You going to think someone is going to shoot you."

But suppose he didn't have a gun, countered 17-year-old Andrew Boose, who said he was a friend of Dawson's and attended the party that night.

"I feel like he ain't that kind of person, he just messed around with the wrong kind of people," said Boose, who attended Life Skills Center of Pinellas. "I don't think he would pull a gun and do nothing like that."

"That's my homeboy," Boose said. "But other people who know Javon are scared to speak up with what they know."

So, Murphy asked the crowd of about 70 young people, would speaking up be considered snitching?

"Snitching is telling on your homeboy to get out of something that you did," said Martin, who is studying to become a medical assistant at Everest University. "But if you telling on someone that you know is wrong, that's just 'looking out.' "

Comments on this article

by Dan

Jun 24, 2008 10:59 AM

Development should be geared towards improving the quality of life of working class people, not generating profit for the rich minority. The plans to develop the new Waterfront Stadium are not in the best interest of the people. If they were, the police would not need to harass homeless and African people. In order to have a healthy community, we need better schools, and more diversity. destroying the culture and lifestyle in st Pete, will certainly not increase business or tourism. These plans to renovate St.Pete are doomed to fail. They are simply based on corporate greed and not development economic and urban planning principles. There are far too many police in St. Petersburg. In my opinion teacher's salaries should increase, and the police force should be much smaller (or their salaries should decrease). Once again, in the case of Javon Dawson (RIP), police brutality, stupidity, and racism has proven to be a threat to the St. Petersburg community

by Jason	Jun 20, 2008 6:38 PM
Where's Bill Cosby when we need him? I didn't know people typed in ebonics; thought it was only spoken.

by SwampRat	Jun 20, 2008 6:34 PM
I will make sense of it for you bleeding hearts right now- Point A gun at the cops and you will catch 50 bullets. There you go. Common Sense.

by T	Jun 20, 2008 1:41 PM
Memo to JudgeNOT: It's not sad, it's easy. Did you see Javon's MYSPACE? Uhhh, where did THAT gun come from? So anyone who says he NEVER had s gun is either LYING or just didn't know. If the cops did "plant the gun", where are those witnesses?

by just me	Jun 20, 2008 1:41 PM
If Javon did not have a gun and his friends were there with him. Tell what happened. If someone points a gun at me I would shoot too. Police have a hard job because of the thugs in our community. Guns are not good be a man and fight if need be.

by neicee	Jun 20, 2008 1:41 PM
Javon's brother said several kids had guns. My question is why would you be at a place where several people have a gun. I fault the parents and the thugist kids for caring guns. Also, if Javon is innocent then why not talk young people. Guilty.

by katie	Jun 20, 2008 1:41 PM
When these people learn that much of the crime in their neighborhoods are black on black and until they HELP themselves and the police it will continue. If there is no one talking and that kid has gunpowder on his hands then let the cop back on duty

by JudgeNOT	Jun 20, 2008 6:39 AM
P.s. Read all of the articles that have been printed and see how many false statements you can point out; especially the ones reported by the police. It's called CYA - believe that. Now go figure why ... witnesses.

by JudgeNOT	Jun 20, 2008 6:39 AM
It's sad to see, hear and read how someone could pass judgement on another and assume this kid disobeyed the law. And to you who asks where was his parents at a "graduation party" get real. Just hold on, and watch the truth come forward.

by Marty S.	Jun 20, 2008 6:38 AM
This might be the only good to come of this whole incident.

by LFS	Jun 19, 2008 9:56 PM
Why didn't the Uhuru organization open their doors to the family & host the funeral for free?The new building has the capacity to fit the family's needs. Since they are using his death for their needs,use the grant funds or monies to help the family.

by LFS	Jun 19, 2008 9:54 PM
Kudos to Pastor Murphy for opening his church to host the forum.I would also like to add that Gibbs also held a discussion forum; however, the Uhuru turned it into a rally to support their own agenda.Grief counseling is still available at Gibbs.

by Adam	Jun 19, 2008 7:28 PM
In Orlando today a man who threatened police officers during a chase was shot and killed this afternoon. At one point, an officer shot a male suspect after being threatened. That suspect was pronounced dead & gun was recovered at the scene.

by John	Jun 19, 2008 5:53 PM
St. Pete needs more leaders like Pastor Murphy. Then maybe some of the tough issues can be addressed. As far as the lingo, at least they are talking. However, having two styles in which to converse is going to be counter productive in the long run.

by LJ	Jun 19, 2008 5:53 PM
Glad to hear that the "potential witnesses" who thus far have refused to talk with law enforcement are being provided a venue to "get their stories straight". As a "Florida cracker", I believe this officer had NO choice but shoot this "thug".

by Letha	Jun 19, 2008 5:53 PM
Speck up you say, the authorities can't change your words once written down on paper. Yes they can and they will. Police do just what that want to and gets away with it all the time.

by Walter	Jun 19, 2008 5:53 PM
I'll type this real slow so you can understand it. If you point a gun at a cop, and don't drop it when he tells you to, you will get shot. Get it now?

by MBC	Jun 19, 2008 5:53 PM
What difference does langauge make when compared to changing a way of thinking and living? Kids need to think for themselves not listen to their peers who will lead them into trouble. Then they will have a chance to live a good life, not in jail.

by MBC	Jun 19, 2008 5:53 PM
I think this is a wonderful thing Pastor Murphy is doing! And in a church forum is exactly where it needs to take place.In an atmosphere where they can express their true thoughts and not be accused of being whimps by their peers!

by Gilbert	Jun 19, 2008 3:04 PM
Great start, good dialogue. As an AfrAm.,I feel the targeted audience should have been the PARENTS! Knowing that my child could help defuse an already volatile situation and do nothing is cowardice! As for the protesting, we must rethink that too!

by henry	Jun 19, 2008 3:04 PM
if the witnesses want to live in the real world,it is time to act like it. why is there so much blood shed in the black community? It won,t change until you change.

by God's Child	Jun 19, 2008 3:04 PM
God Bless Rev. Murphy & all forum participants! What makes these kids more apt to verbally express themselves to these kind of LEADERS, is because the love & concern is recognized as being truly genuine. Pray on believers! God is still in control!

by Concerned	Jun 19, 2008 1:20 PM
Can anyone tell me why these kids have guns at a graduation party? WHERE ARE THE PARENTS THAT ARE SUPERVISING THIS PARTY? WHO IS IN CHARGE? Who cares how the kids speak to a news reporter. Nichole Hutchinson wrote irresponsibly.

by ms. bee	Jun 19, 2008 12:58 PM
PARENTS NEED TO BE PARENTS AND STOP LETTING THE STREETS RAISE YOUR KIDS. HELL ALL OF YOU NEED TO GET IN SCHOOL. THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN IF NEED BE. PUT GOD 1ST IN YOUR LIFES AND LIFE WOULD BE MUCH BETTER FOR ALL OF US. PRAY MORE. IT'S ALL GOOD

by long gone	Jun 19, 2008 12:58 PM
After 32 years I had enough of this and moved away. Good Luck.

by Jo	Jun 19, 2008 12:58 PM
what about dusting the gun for prints?

by Bill	Jun 19, 2008 12:44 PM
At least the kids are speaking for themselves instead of letting the Uhuru Socialist Party speak for them. http://www.uhurumovement.org/ The kids semm interested in finding out the truth, and the Uhuru's only want to divide the City and Nation.

by Mr. & Mrs. W	Jun 19, 2008 12:43 PM
Bob 9:05 a.m.,the difference betwn. Old NE & S.side is that in Old NE we care about our community.You'd be hard pressed to find the resident's NOT cooperating with law enforcement in a situation such as this! That's also why its a nicer neighborhood.

by Lindsay	Jun 19, 2008 12:24 PM
I think this is a great idea on the part of the pastor. I am glad to see the Times cover contributers in our society and not Uhurus who try to use these kids to obstruct law enforcement. I don't care about the grammar, these seem like decent teens.

by JOE	Jun 19, 2008 12:24 PM
IF ANYBODY BELIEVES OFFICER NEWMAN SHOT JAVON DAWSON FOR NO REASON, SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEM!!A POLICE OFFICER PUTS HIS LIFE ON THE LINE EVERYDAY. IF JAVON WOULD HAVE LISTENED AND OBEYED THE OFFICER HE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY.

by southside too	Jun 19, 2008 12:24 PM
The racists replying here need to shut up. they are keeping the Uhurus in business, which benefits no one. Nice to see these teens act rational. If you bring a gun in public or hang with someone who has one illegally, expect to be shot.

by Ann	Jun 19, 2008 12:24 PM
Now I am concerned about witness tampering since so many potential witnesses were all in the same place hearing others' comments.

by Thanks 2 Times	Jun 19, 2008 12:23 PM
SP Times- thanks for covering the people who matter- our city's youth. Please continue to cover the real people, NOT Omali Yeshitela.

by Willie	Jun 19, 2008 12:23 PM
He had a gun and pointed it at police. How do I know? Because if he didn't, everyone who KNEW he didn't would be parading in front of the press telling the truth. Besides his family, NO ONE has come forward to say he didn't. Justified shooting.

by Southside	Jun 19, 2008 12:10 PM
This is the 2nd summit that Pastor Murphy has held since Dawson's death. Two hundred people attended last Wednesday, but the media chose to cover the Uhurus. Those kids spoke of personal responsibility and non violence. Good news doesn't sell.