On January 5, 2017 someone killed Kemorie Javon Wallace (19) near the intersection of SW 200th Street and 114th Avenue, Miami, Florida. This happened a little before 830PM. He tried to get help, even tried to run, but collapsed on the sidewalk and died.
There is very little online about this case. We know Kemorie was shot with a gun (caliber and model unknown) and was hit several times. How many times? Was there an autopsy? What were the results? There is nothing about this in the papers.
Kemorie’s mom is still alive and wishes to know what happened to her son.
It is possible that Kemorie was targeted but I have not seen anything to point in that direction. Could this have been a case of mistaken identity? Possible, it was getting dark.
Drive-by shooting? There is no mention of a suspicious car in the few newspaper pieces I found. Were there other shootings that evening in the area? Did anyone report any suspicious people in that area? In short, we almost have nothing to go on, except this.
There is something very important online about Kemorie Javon Wallace, a teenager who wanted to make a difference, and that is his voice.
The project Miami-Dade Partners 4 Peace was started to give teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 the opportunity to compose, sing, and record their music about gun violence and how it affected them.
One of the groups to record there was the Richmond Perrine Optimist Academy Group 1. They recorded a hip-hop song about the value of education and how it can serve as an alternative to and a solution for gun violence. Kemorie Wallace features in it.
The song is called “Books Up, Guns Down!” by the Richmond Perrine Optimist Academy Group 1 and you can find it on SoundCloud. Kemorie starts at 2min 45sec in. You can hear him sing these lines:
“Stop killing Stop killing Stop killing.
Stop killing all these innocent children.
You’re trying to throw your life away. That’s how you’re living.
The violence. The violence. The violence.
These teens wanna grab a gun. Man they’re wildin’
The only thing left is a casket.
You’re trying to risk your loved ones for a casket.
Don’t grab a pistol, come to the court and shoot a basket
The violence is a virus.
You can’t tame it.
Families only have memories and pictures. They gotta frame it.
Put the gun down and stop aiming.
Change your life around. Hey start changing
End the violence.
End the violence and start changing!”
Kemorie’s voice and message for peace will live forever on the Internet.
Thank you for that gift.
**
In the series “Case of the Month” I highlight old unsolved cases. These posts are not an in-depth analysis and of course, more information can be found online and in newspaper archives.
We need to get these cases back in the mainstream media, to get people talking again, and if anything, to make sure that we do not forget the victims. Just because their cases are unsolved does not mean that we can forget about them.
With the advances in modern forensic sciences, we have a chance to find clues that previously remained hidden. So, let us review all these old cases once more.
I encourage you to share this post on your own social media platforms. By sharing these posts online, the cases reach new networks, new connections, and the latest news feeds. One day these updates may pop up in the right person’s news feed. That may be someone who can help advance the case and that is my goal.
Contact Information
If you have any information that can help solve this case please call Miami-Dade CrimeStoppers at 305-471-8477.
Note: two confusing details from CrimeStoppers.
1: The Gun Violence Archive and NBC both mention the shooting took place at SW 200th Street and 114th Avenue, Miami, Florida which is indeed an intersection.
However, CrimeStoppers says 113th (see image to the right) which exists but it does not seem to cross with SW 200th Street.
2: CrimeStoppers uses the name Kemoire. However, NBC, the Gun Memorial, MDP4P, all use Kemorie.
His mother has confirmed in her emails that her son’s name is Kemorie.
Rest in peace, Kemorie Javon Wallace.