As a 22-year-old Detroit native, I have seen and felt the pain of gun violence all too often, and the recent tragic death of a bright, promising young man, Jordan Thornhill, struck me deep within my heart.
Jordan was a recent graduate of Michigan State University, an alumnus of Renaissance High School, a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and a brother, son and friend to many, and he deserves to be with us today.
He was shot and killed July 5 at a party on Cherry Lawn Road near Wyoming and Fenkell streets, one of several fatal shootings over the Fourth of July weekend.
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“Losing Jordan feels like losing a part of our city’s future. He embodied the hopes and dreams that so many of us hold, he worked to carry on traditions, built traditions of his own, and contributed positively to our community. His senseless death is a painful reminder of the continuing violence that plagues our city and robs us of our brightest light.”
I know this pain all too well.
I lost my brother, Darnell Young, to gun violence in 2023 and the wounds are still fresh. Frankly, the grief never goes away. It just becomes a part of who you are.
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With each new life lost, the wounds are reopened, a reminder of the fragility of life in the city we love so dearly. And unfortunately, we cannot escape the trauma, for if we forget the pain, we feel guilty for numbing it.
Detroit is a beautiful city, rich in culture and resilience. But it’s hard to see that beauty when we feel like we’re constantly being heartbroken. We’re tired of the prayers, the tears, and the unanswered questions. We’re tired of seeing our friends and family become hashtags and headlines.
The violence in our city has no filter. No one can protect themselves from its brutality, regardless of their age, gender or social status. There are many parallels between Jordan and the promising young people of our city. When we think of him, we cannot help but remember the dreaded words: “That could have happened to me.”
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Now we are hesitant to go out and engage with our communities. We wonder when Detroit became Gotham City. Who will save us? Can we save ourselves?
Jordan’s death must not be in vain. We need to come together as a community and demand change — better resources, more supports for young people, and a commitment from our leaders to tackle this violence head on.
When I look around my city, I see so much potential. We are strong, we are resilient, and we have the capacity to achieve great things. But we need peace to fully realize that potential. Please don’t bury our future.
Our heartfelt condolences and love go out to Jordan’s family and friends. Your pain is our pain. To all of Detroit, please join us in remembering Jordan, Darnell, and all those who lost their lives as we work toward a Detroit where no more lives are needlessly taken from gun violence.
Detroit, today we begin to heal together. Let’s turn our pain into action, our grief into a catalyst for change.
Trinity Jones is a recent graduate of Eastern Michigan University. She plans to study law, but until she starts law school, she is working as the Social Media Editor for the Detroit Department of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship.
