'Our community is more than violence': Celebration of life held on toddler's second birthday, one week after she was fatally shot
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Dozens gathered inside of a park on Milwaukee's north side Saturday afternoon for a party filled with bounce houses, face-painting and even horses.
But while it looked like a little kid's dream birthday party on the outside, the event was actually held in memoriam of Zy'Aire Nevels, the one-year-old girl who was shot and killed June 3.
See Also
Saturday, June 10 would have been her second birthday.
The celebration of life was held by Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention.
"We had to start somewhere, and we wanted to start with this," said Desilynn Smith, a member with Milwaukee Promise Keepers. "It's very heartwarming and exciting to see this many people."
While Smith did not know Nevels or her family personally, she said what happened last week affects everybody in the city.
"I'm connected because it's our community," Nevels said. "Our community is more than violence. We're all in this together."
The 27-year-old man charged in connection with the shooting was in court for the first time, also on June 10.
He is being held on a $350,000 cash bond and is facing one count of reckless homicide and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.
His next court appearance is June 20.