Candlelight vigil in Wilmington honors victims and survivors of crimes

April 22, 2024

Sydney Bouchelle,

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — In partnership with the US Attorney’s Office, A Safe Place hosted a candlelight vigil to recognize National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

People gathered on the steps of the Alton Lennon Federal Building on Monday evening for the vigil. Representatives from A Safe Place, the US Attorney’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office spoke to the crowd before lighting candles and walking down Water Street together.

“I want the victims to know that their voices matter, that there is a path to healing for them, and there are people in the community that care,” said Dawn Ferrer, executive director of A Safe Place.

“It may take many different shapes and forms, but the pain and suffering that they experience is real and the support that we can provide them is real as well,” said Bryan Stephaney, US Attorney.

After the group returned to the steps from the candlelit walk, Nicholas Brown shared his families’ story as victims of a crime.

Three years ago, Nicholas’ son Ammad Brown died in the early morning hours of September 19, 2021. Ammad was standing outside his car on Carolina Beach Road because he’d gotten a flat tire. That’s when his family says he was hit and killed in a hit and run.

“We don’t want another family to go through a tragedy such as this,” said Nicholas Brown. “When you lose a child in such a traumatic way, it changes your life forever.”

The Browns are encouraging people to not be bystanders.

“We think that if you see something, say something. If you hear a noise, try to react and see what’s going on because maybe if someone had gone out to check on Ammad, maybe he could have been saved. We don’t know,” said Umeki Brown, Ammad’s mother.

For the Browns, the support they received proved invaluable in navigating their grief.

“You’re only weak when you don’t seek help,” said Nicholas Brown. “That’s what it has done for me, and I’m praying that it does for someone else, and whoever is listening to this, they will seek the help that they need.”