A few months ago I wrote about my beloved Miami Gardens -- how the streets of the city are being beautified while crime seems to be flourishing.

Three weeks ago, the crime I wrote about hit very close to home. Fannie Howell, my dear friend and neighbor for many years, lost her oldest son -- a kind and nonviolent man -- to the city's mean streets.

Michael A. Garland, 49, was killed while jogging in his neighborhood at dusk on Sept. 16. He was shot three times in the back. The assailant or assailants have yet to be caught.

Everyone who knew Garland said he was a soft-spoken, gentle giant; he was 6 feet, 7 inches tall. For the past eight years, he had worked as a driver for Broward County.

I can't explain the pain I felt when Howell told me. My oldest son is only a few months older than hers. They had known each other as children, graduating the same year from high school -- Garland from Miami Central High and mine from Carol City High. I watched them as they grew from awkward adolescents into handsome men.

There are no words to comfort Howell or Garland's stepfather John W. Howell; his children, Michael, Marlon, Marlo and Mikayla; his sisters Eugenia Bradshaw and Sheila and Vanessa Garland; or his brothers the Rev. Jeffery Garland, Eugene Graland II, Todd Garland and his baby brother John Gary Howell.

Now, I watch daily as Howell tries to go on with her life. The pain shows in her face. A woman of faith who is devoted to her church, she said she prays a lot. But she is angry.

Angry at whoever shot her son in the back.

Angry at the way our community seems to be deteriorating more each day at the hands of criminals.

And angry because she has lived long enough to see too many innocent victims caught in the web of crime and violence. Where is the justice for them?

Garland was buried Sept. 27. He leaves behind his grieving mother, his children and the rest of his family and many friends who still ask, ``Where is the justice, and when will the violence stop?''

I am left asking about the person or people who committed this horrific crime: Did they know him?

Did they know he was a hard-working, family man who would do anything to help anyone in need?

Did they know their act of violence would leave so many with a broken heart?

Did they even care?

I guess not.

CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE

The Christian Community Development Association Conference will be Oct. 22-26 at the Hyatt Regency and J.L. Knight Center in downtown Miami.

The association is an ethnically diverse, national and international network of Christians working to restore underserved communities.

The group gathers each year to learn from each other through teaching and workshops, discover new resources, network among friends and new acquaintances, worship together and visit ministries to see what local churches are doing.

This year's theme is ``Seeking Peace in the City''.

For more information call 786-388-3000 or go to www.ccdamiami08.org.

AUTHOR SPEAKS

The Rev. John Dominic Crossan, renowned theologian, Biblical scholar and often controversial author, will be the guest lecturer at Coral Gables Congregational Church United Church of Christ at 3010 DeSoto Blvd. in Coral Gables.

The lecture series is Paul: An Appealing or Appalling Apostle?

On Sunday, following the lecture series, Crossan will preach at the 9 and 11 a.m. worship services at the church.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@