Photo above: Daniela Lemus displayed a photo of her son Juan Carlos, who was murdered last March at age 17. Cassidy McNeeley photo
Daniela Lemus sat at a table in Dorchester’s Florian Hall last Thursday thinking about how her life had changed for the worse since the last holiday season. A year ago, the Chelsea resident was preparing for Christmas with her 17-year-old son, Juan Carlos. This year, he’s gone, murdered last March not far from their home.
“Three guys, a 17 year old, an 18 year old, and a 26 year old, attacked him with a knife,” she said. “These guys hid behind the cars in masks. When he walked [past] with his friend around 8 p.m., they attacked him from behind.”
Lemus was one of roughly 100 homicide survivors who had gathered at the firefighter’s union hall for the 15th annual breakfast organized by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to mark Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month.
“We are all unwilling members of the same club, forced into a partnership not of our choosing and by cruelties entirely out of our control,” said Mark Lee, deputy chief of Homicide, in remarks from the Florian podium. “But in our club, we fight, we get up every day, we support, we love, and above all, we stay committed to bringing justice to every one of your cases.”
Seated a few tables away from Lemus were sisters Diane and Charise Simmons of Dorchester and Roxbury, respectively. In 2011, Diane’s 16-year-old son, Jaivon Blake, was murdered in a drive-by shooting on Geneva Avenue, and in 2024, both women grieved the loss of their sister, Celia Simmons, when she was stabbed to death in Ramsay Park.
While the women are still in mourning, they are also enduring a long legal process.
“Javon was a bright young man. I love him very much, and I miss him very much every day,” said Diane. “I am currently still going to court fighting for his innocence.” She added that as they continue to attend court hearings related to their sister’s murder in Roxbury, the DA’s breakfast brings a feeling of solidarity that is helpful.
“I feel awareness, and I feel I am not alone,” she said.
Charise noted that “we want the community to be aware and educated about what’s going on. My nephew and sister were both sweet, very caring people. Unfortunate that they were just minding their own business. Wrong place at the wrong time. Almost like you can’t enjoy the community without things happening.”
In his remarks, District Attorney Kevin Hayden told the gathering that the survivors’ involvement was important to “break the cycle of violence in Suffolk County and cultivate lasting cycles of peace.”
Between the sharing of a meal and the stories of loved ones lost, two women who are working to both “break” and “cultivate” cycles were cited with awards: Elizabeth Dugan, Boston Medical’s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP) clinical director, and Denella Clark, president and CEO of the Boston Arts Academy.
Above: Denella Clark and DA Kevin Hayden. Cassidy McNeeley photo
While Dugan works with families and survivors during some of their hardest days, Clark is herself a survivor.
“We don’t call ourselves victims, we’re survivors,” said Clark, whose older brother, Conrad James, was murdered in 1989. “I hope each of you, like me, will use this pain you have and turn it into purpose and live a life of service for others.”
Hayden described the survivor community as “an army of people who aren’t simply resigned to the notion that hurt people hurt people.” He added: “People have the ability to heal people.”
With the help of a translator friend, Lemus told The Reporter that her son Juan was deeply religious. “He would always talk about God and reading the bible,” she said. The Chelsea High School student was a member of the Ministerio Monte De Sion Church and was committed to his faith and family.
“He was very loving. He would tell me every day that he loves me and would hug me,” said Lemus. “He didn’t like injustice. It didn’t matter if it was an elderly person or a young child, he wanted justice for everybody.”
His family is still in pursuit of that justice, saying that two of the alleged perpetrators have been arrested, but the third has fled the country.
“I am grateful for the parties that have worked pretty fast on our case,” Lemus said. “Events like [the Survivors Breakfast] are very positive because I feel like I am supported.”
Boston Medical’s Violence Prevention Advocacy Program clinical director Elizabeth Dugan (center) was recognized for her work in supporting survivors. Cassidy McNeeley photo
