'It destroyed us': Vigil held for Racine mother shot and killed leading to standoff

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- It was an emotional night Wednesday, July 23, as nearly 100 people came together to remember Charmeka Flowers.

“Man, this is beyond words now,” said Bennie Pegues, Flowers’ brother.

Flowers was shot and killed Tuesday morning in Racine by a man, who her family says was the father of one of her children. Flowers' family identified the alleged shooter as Johnny Williams.

“He’s a monster,” said Tanisha Nesey, Flowers’ sister. “That’s a monster to take a mother away from her kids."

Flowers was a mother of six and a substitute teacher in the Racine Unified School District. Her family says she was a pillar, not just in their family, but in the community.

“She would give you the shirt off her back,” said Semake Abdullah, Flowers’ god sister. “I mean, I know you hear a lot of people say that, but she would literally give you the shirt off her back.”

Family, friends and community members came together to hold a vigil and balloon release to remember the 48-year-old woman they say had the biggest heart.

“It destroyed us,” said Pegues. “But we going to build back up. We are going to be strong. You know she got kids, those are our responsibility now."

Her brothers, sisters and children in tears, saying she was taken too soon from violence. 

“That’s my sister she’s gone,” said Nesey. “She gone from us, but I’m hurt, but I could never hurt no more than her six children. I could never hurt no more than six children. These are her babies.”

While she’s gone, her family says they will never forget her smile and will always keep her memory alive through those she loved.

“We can never bring her back, but we can always have her memory live on through everybody that knew her,” said Nesey.

Her family says one of the hardest parts is knowing Flowers will never get justice.

There is a GoFundMe to support the family here.