June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, which was created in an effort to raise awareness surrounding the issue of needless and senseless gun violence.
In Clarksville-Montgomery County, there have been eight homicides and seven have involved guns. Three families in Clarksville share their stories of how gun violence forever changed their lives.
Jessenia Mercado lost her 19-year-old son Adam Marquez to gun violence in August 2014 and his death has left his family feeling incomplete.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- Jessenia Mercado did not know when her 19-year-old son Adam Marquez left the family house on August 29, 2014 that it would be the last time she would see him alive.
“Adam had a problem with two young men and they were going back and forth for a little while. He was in New York when it started and it escalated when he came back. We told him to ignore it,” Mercado said. “He was walking out the door and I said, ‘What are you doing?’ I said,’Don’t go!’ One of the boys said he don’t fight, he shoot. I told him it’s not worth it. He said, ‘Mom, I’m good I got this.’ He never came back home.”
Adam and his friends met the three other young men who had called them to a neighborhood near the intersection of Needmore Road and Trenton Road for a fight. Once there, one of the young men, Joshua Aretz, stepped out from behind a house and fired at least 13 shots at Adam and his friends.
“It was unprovoked. He didn’t initiate it. He thought he was going to a fist fight. No weapon, no knife or gun. He went with his two fist and it was a plot to kill him,” she said. “I don’t know why to this day. Even if it was over his girlfriend, and they got back together…for you to take his life for no reason is something I’ll never be able to come to terms with.”
Soon after, Mercado received a call from her son’s friend saying Adam had been shot and was dead.
“I heard on the phone that my son was gone,” Mercado said. “I went to the crime scene. He was laying out there for five hours. They didn’t want to move him. I ran toward him but they wouldn’t let me get there. In my head I said if I can hold him maybe I can bring him back.”
The rest of the family rushed to the crime scene as news spread. Adam was the third-born of Mercado and had 13 siblings total.
“Eventually in an hour, all of us were out there. I sat there and thought, maybe I’m in a nightmare. Maybe this is not real, maybe I fell asleep when he left and maybe I’m sleeping still,” Mercado said. “I think I went that whole day. When they took him we went home. Everyone is trying to cradle you, but you don’t want so many people around.”
The realization she was not in a nightmare occurred as she was awakened by a phone call the next morning. It was a detective asking if she was Adam’s mom and giving her information about her son’s murder.
“It all rushed that it wasn’t a nightmare, that it really happened. I think I tried to convince myself it wasn’t happening. After that it was horrible,” she said. “Adam had a seizure disorder, but he lived his life. He was happy, but he didn’t live his full life and that’s what gets to me. … Doing funeral arrangements and going to court, I kept thinking how can this beautiful human being not be able to finish his life.”
Three people were arrested and charged with Adam’s homicide. Joshua Aretz, the shooter committed another murder while out on bond for Marquez’s murder. He ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 47 1/2 years in prison for both the homicide of Marquez and the murder of 21-year-old Liperial “Savon” Easterling.
“I’m not sure why they let them out of jail. I can’t understand why,” Mercado said. “One of the boys involved in my son’s murder was released with no charges. The other one, his brother, had to finish a few months in jail and did probation. … The shooter he took two lives and got that sentence. It’s nothing compared to the loss me and Savon’s mom have to experience everyday.”
It has left a hole in our family
Adam was known as the clown in the family and the one who brought the fun ideas that brought everyone closer. He loved his family, and didn’t live long enough to have his own children but adored his niece.
“I have six grandkids. When Adam passed away it was only one. He was supposed to contribute. I’m suppose to say Happy Father’s Day. I can’t call him whenever I want to. I speak to my children a lot. To wake up on a daily basis and not be able to get a ‘hey mom’ text from your son. It’s very hard. It’s weird how time works. Six years seems forever, but the pain seems like yesterday.”
Mercado said her son had a beautiful smile, was a great, loyal friend, was always willing to help people out, and was an amazing son, grandson, brother and uncle.
“Gun violence has effected my family because it has left a hole in our family and a big hurt. We try everyday to go on,” Mercado said. “We are very blessed, but we still have a big missing piece to our puzzle and that’s Adam.”
About ROCC
The Reclaiming our Clarksville Community (ROCC) initiated the recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Month in Clarksville, Tenn. and asked families to share their experiences in this three part series.
ROCC’s goal is to bring attention to the rapidly growing problem of gun violence by educating l al youth on choices both positive and consequential and provide resources to foster purposeful programs within the community.
“We strive to silence the violence and increase the peace,” said David Hooks, founder of ROCC. “The month of June is set aside around the country to bring added awareness to the pandemic of gun violence that plagues our communities both near and far.”
Due to COVID-19, ROCC was not able to host local activities, but hopes to resume in the fall.
“Anyone wishing to join us for trh sake of our children and betterment of the community please reach out to us via Facebook on our ROCC group page.”
Also in the Gun Violence Awareness series: