Michael Connor Verkerke
KENTWOOD, MI – The playground stabbing death of 9-year-old Michael Connor Verkerke has left his parents and three siblings "absolutely numb," a relative of the boy said Wednesday at a vigil held at the site of his attack two days earlier.
Some of Connor's last words showed his true spirit and the ideals his family hopes the community will embrace, said his great-uncle, Jim Stearns.
“If anything happens to me, it’s not your fault. I’ll always love you,” Stearns said Verkerke told his brother, who took him back home after he was allegedly stabbed by a 12-year-old at Pinebrook Village.
The family, Stearns said, is insulating itself and trying to comprehend the unprovoked violence that has left Jamarion Lawhorn charged with murder.
“Their top priority right now is the mental health of their three remaining children," he said.
Although the family is "frustrated" with what's happened, Stearns said he hasn't heard much anger toward Lawhorn.
“Their hearts go out to the family of the young boy,” he said. “Even though we’re dealing with a different type of pain, they’ll be dealing with a similar pain every day for the rest of their lives. That’s not to be taken lightly.”
About 100 people gathered Wednesday, Aug. 6, for a candlelight vigil at the playground to celebrate Connor's memory.
Children and adults alike laughed and cried during the vigil, in which Stearns spoke to the crowd before they joined in singing a few verses of “Jesus Loves Me.”
Vigilance and balance are some lessons from this tragedy, Stearns said. He told the crowd that to embody Connor’s positivity, parents need to protect their children, but not hold them so close that they can’t learn about the world on their own.
While the vigil was in Connor’s memory, Stearns, who is the uncle of Connor’s mother, said it was largely to help in the healing of children who live in Pinebrook.
“This is your community,” Stearns told the children in the crowd. “This is your park; this is Connor’s park. Take it back, own it, embrace it and hug each other.”
Stearns said the incident has “terrorized” the park for kids - in particular, two of Connor’s brothers who were with him when the attack occurred.
“They’re afraid,” he said about the brothers.
Stearns said just Sunday, Connor was playing around the fire at his grandmother’s home. He recalled taking photos of Connor, not realizing they would be the last ones he’d take of him.
Though he said Connor could be "a pistol," he recalled the young boy's positive spirit.
“This kid was amazing,” Stearns said. “He was the sweetest, angelic kid you ever met.”
Community members honored his memory with teddy bears, passed out by vigil organizers, placed next to a cross on the side of the playground and around where family members previously hung a sign in memory.
Toward the end of the evening, Sue Fiebig, Connor's grandmother, led Boy Scout Troop 373 and Cub Scout Pack 3373 in their traditional chant to end a meeting – this time with new meaning, she said.
Connor was transitioning between the troops prior to his death, she said.
“Oh great master, of all true scouts, be with us until we meet again,” they said.
Those who wish to contribute funds to the Verkerke family can do so here.