Detroit mother loses 2 sons to gun violence just years apart: ‘My heart is broken’

Markeila Parker plans to relocate family

DETROIT – A Detroit mother is sharing her grief over losing a son to gun violence for the second time just two and a half years apart.

Markeila Parker said she is leaving Detroit. She lost a son to gun violence in 2019 and again this year.

“I can’t deal with it. My heart is broken. Ripping up. It feel like I don’t have no heart,” Parker said. “All I can do is hit the floor.”

Her 18-year-old son Tymarian was shot and killed in December of 2019. Her 23-year-old son Tyrone Parker was killed on April 21 when he was shot and killed on Detroit’s east side.

She feels both murders are connected. She said after the funeral she will completely relocate her family.

“I’m going to have to leave because I can’t stay here,” Parker said. “I’m just gonna relocate out the state completely.”

Police arrested and prosecutors have charged someone in connection with the 19-year-old’s death. That suspect has been sitting in jail for about two and a half years. The case has not gone to trial.

Police are still searching for the shooter in the death of the 23-year-old.


Want to help? The family has created a GoFundMe account to help with funeral costs.


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About the Authors:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.