Winston-Salem families of shooting victims urge public to help stop gun violence
As gun violence continues to plague cities across the country, including in the Piedmont Triad, family members of shooting victims are asking for the public’s help stop the violence and warning that it can happen to anyone.
Police are currently investigating a shooting that happened in the 800 block of North Jackson Avenue in Winston-Salem last Sunday.
Officers responded around 1 a.m., and found a woman who was shot multiple times inside a home.
Suspects drove up to the house, and fired multiple rounds before driving away, authorities said. Officials added they believe the home was targeted.
The victim is currently recovering from her non-life-threatening injuries, officials added.
WXII 12 News talked with the victim’s mother, Evette Wooten Thursday evening. She said her 26-year-old daughter, Monique Bryant, suffered from gunshot wounds in her arm, shoulder and foot.
She added she stopped by her daughter’s house right before the shooting happened.
“Twenty minutes, I got home, my daughter called me and said 'mom, I just got shot,'” Wooten said.
The incident brought back a similar pain for Wooten a few years ago, she said.
In 2019, she said someone shot and killed her son in High Point. She added one year later, her other daughter was shot in Winston-Salem, but she survived.
“I’m still strong, but at the end of the day, I’m still broken-hearted because I’m not understanding why this is happening to my kids,” Wooten said.
Wooten told WXII 12 News that the gun violence needs to stop. People need to come forward if they know what happened, she said.
Even if you’re not involved in the shootings, she said it could happen to you, and anyone around you.
“You never know when it’s going to hit your home,” Wooten said. “So I feel like everybody needs to come together, even though you haven’t been in that situation. Everybody needs to come together, and try to at least find out what could be done.”
Wooten confirmed officers arrested a suspect in her son’s death, and the case is still in the courts. She said no one has been arrested in either of her daughters’ shooting cases.
WXII 12 News also talked with Tracy Dent in Winston-Salem, who said her son was taken away from her due to gun violence.
She said someone drove by, and started shooting on Bohannon Park Circle in May 2016. She said her 28-year-old son, Jonathan McCravey, tried to get people nearby to duck and cover, and was shot in the stomach right in front of her.
Authorities said witnesses told them they saw a car drive away from the scene around the time the shooting happened.
Dent said her son died in surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center the next day.
“I just held onto his hand, even though I couldn’t understand why me? Why would you take my kid?” Dent asked.
Since then, Dent said she’s been trying to help other mothers who are going through similar situations along with future generations.
She said it will take people who have experienced gun violence to help mentor younger children, and make sure they’re headed down a path of success.
Dent added if they don’t, shootings will continue to scourge the Piedmont Triad, and more families will be left mourning their loved ones.
“We don’t need to say there’s another shooting,” Dent said. “We need to make an impact on the community to let them know you’re not going to put up with this in your community.”
Dent later opened up and told WXII 12 News that she also lost her son-in-law, Jalen, to gun violence.
To honor her son and son-in-law, she said she is creating a scholarship every year to help high school students attending Mount Tabor and Parkland high schools, who plan on attending Winston-Salem State University.
Her son graduated from Mount Tabor High School and Winston-Salem State University, she said, and her son-in-law graduated from Parkland High School.
If you’d like to apply or learn more about the scholarship, please email Dent at TheJonJalenFoundation@gmail.com.
Dent shared the scholarship foundation’s mission statement below:
The Jonathan McCravey Jr. and Jalen Cockerham Sr. Foundation support effective gun violence prevention programs, innovative partnerships and dynamic approaches to philanthropy in our core areas of interest: advocating for and advancing at-risk youths to prevent gun violence in Forsyth county, financial assistance for students/educational facilities who express love for the arts (music and dance), the athletic department and will award collegiate scholarships to Forsyth County residents.
J. M. Jr. & J. C. Sr. Foundation is to enrich humanity by enhancing and empowering children and families who have suffered from gun violence. While remaining flexible in our approach, we give priority to: providing the needs of the Forsyth County community.
J. M. Jr. & J. C. Sr. Foundation will work to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within Minority communities. The foundation will also affiliate with other organizations and individual affiliates to create systemic and social change. We strive to increase power, safety and resources through data analysis, policy advocacy, education and technical assistance.
If you have any information that may help police with any shooting investigations, you are urged to call Crime Stoppers where you can remain anonymous.