Leslie

I knew I had to. Nobody even offered to do it for me. I had to do it. I picked out a blue cardigan, a plaid shirt to go under his cardigan, a blue bow tie. And some blue jeans. I dressed him in a way that I would want and a way that I knew he would like. And he had a fresh haircut. And he had a Cardinals cap. Because he loved a hat. I love a hat, too. But the hat couldn't go on his head.

Because he had been shot in the top. And his head was still, you know, pretty swollen. And... That shot to the top of his head came out of his left eye.

Because he had been shot in the top. And his head was still, you know, pretty swollen. And... That shot to the top of his head came out of his left eye.

I had a picture of Mike, and I said, I want him to look just like this. Like there's nothing to happen, meaning that I want him to look like himself. And I'll dress him like himself and put him away.

I had a picture of Mike, and I said, I want him to look just like this. Like there's nothing to happen, meaning that I want him to look like himself. And I'll dress him like himself and put him away.

They took me to a funeral home, and they walked me to the room, and I just remember them opening the doors, and I saw two rows of seats, two pews, and it felt like the longest walk ever. But he was at the end.

They took me to a funeral home, and they walked me to the room, and I just remember them opening the doors, and I saw two rows of seats, two pews, and it felt like the longest walk ever. But he was at the end.

Like, I don't want to be able to tell that his head is swollen or that his eye is gone. I want him to look just like himself. And he did a damn good job.

Like, I don't want to be able to tell that his head is swollen or that his eye is gone. I want him to look just like himself. And he did a damn good job.

I never imagined burying my son. And I never imagined those dynamics surrounding his death either. I never imagined the police shooting my son. Nothing of that happened. to my son. It took 44 minutes to bring him here and this man killed him within less than 44 seconds. I never imagined any of that.

I never imagined burying my son. And I never imagined those dynamics surrounding his death either. I never imagined the police shooting my son. Nothing of that happened. to my son. It took 44 minutes to bring him here and this man killed him within less than 44 seconds. I never imagined any of that.

You've not had one conversation with me as a mother. And you're selling neckties with his face on them at his funeral. A funeral that costs thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars. There are celebrities here. There are pastors here from all over the world. There are people here because their heart told them to be here. And what they believe here. And you're selling a necktie. I was disgusted.

You've not had one conversation with me as a mother. And you're selling neckties with his face on them at his funeral. A funeral that costs thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars. There are celebrities here. There are pastors here from all over the world. There are people here because their heart told them to be here. And what they believe here. And you're selling a necktie. I was disgusted.

I could not believe that. I couldn't believe that there was a website set up selling hats. The folks who were doing it were supposed to love Mike and care about Mike. But couldn't I tell you one thing about Mike? Not one thing, his favorite food, favorite color, how he was in school, what type of big brother he was, what type of son, you know. But they thought that it was okay to profit, right?

I could not believe that. I couldn't believe that there was a website set up selling hats. The folks who were doing it were supposed to love Mike and care about Mike. But couldn't I tell you one thing about Mike? Not one thing, his favorite food, favorite color, how he was in school, what type of big brother he was, what type of son, you know. But they thought that it was okay to profit, right?

off of Mike's death. And they're still doing that today.

off of Mike's death. And they're still doing that today.

I was on the news and on the radio and probably on a plane Within a week. And I had never been on an airplane. So I was facing fears and, you know, being courageous and being like super mom. Because when it comes down to it, we're going to do whatever we have to do. And that's just what I did.

I was on the news and on the radio and probably on a plane Within a week. And I had never been on an airplane. So I was facing fears and, you know, being courageous and being like super mom. Because when it comes down to it, we're going to do whatever we have to do. And that's just what I did.

With all the travel, that's where Louis became like, you know, the parent. And he was home with them, getting them back and forth to school, helping with homework more than I was at the time.