Indianapolis Star---May 8, 1994
Hundreds try to make sense of girl's death; Friends and strangers alike grieve for LaShonna Bates, as funeral speakers promise her passing won't be in vain.
by JAMES L. PATTERSON JR.
A slain 11-year-old girl's funeral Saturday drew more than 300 people, many of whom had never met LaShonna Marie Bates. But the most moving scene at the funeral of the Indianapolis girl involved several dozen who knew her well: her fourth-grade classmates who tried desperately to do the grown-up thing and hold their emotions in check.
They failed.
The funeral amounted to a solemn lesson to LaShonna's classmates from School 46, who wore white carnations pinned near their hearts. Pain was also evident on the faces of more than a dozen members of LaShonna's family who sat in front pews at First Christian Missionary Baptist Church, trying to hold back tears during the two-hour funeral.
"We're living in some perilous times," said the Rev. T. Garrott Benjamin, who presided at the funeral. "Not only are we killing each other, but we are killing our children. "This is the first generation in our history where children have killed children. Where children have been under assault," he said.
LaShonna disappeared Feb. 15 after failing to board her school bus at Arizona and Meridian streets.
A massive search by family, friends, police and community organizations failed to turn up clues.
But on April 5, the decomposed body of a girl roughly matching LaShonna's description was found by chance in a wooded area near Massachusetts and Euclid avenues.
More than a week ago, DNA test results confirmed the body was LaShonna's. Her skull had been fractured, but investigators were unsure if that caused her death. The case is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been made.
The search for the missing girl transcended race and brought neighborhoods together, said School 46 Principal Phyllis Imel, who spoke at the funeral.
Several speakers used the funeral to urge anyone with knowledge of LaShonna's death to contact police.
Indianapolis Police Capt. Robert B. Turner promised that the search for her killer would continue. "That search (for LaShonna) is over today, but I want you to know that the investigation is not over," Turner said during the funeral. He encouraged parents to spend more time with their children and not leave them alone too often.
In brief remarks, Center Township Trustee Julia Carson said LaShonna's life will not have been in vain. As a young girl, she belonged to all of us, Carson said.
Her death brought Indianapolis together, said the Rev. Damon S. Roach, pastor of First Christian Missionary Baptist Church. "We can't do anything to bring this child back. She is with God," Rev. Roach said. "We pray that the person responsible for this atrocity will first ask for forgiveness, because this person needs forgiveness. And then we pray that this person be brought to justice." The death is a tragic commentary on what people have become, said Rev. Benjamin.
The senior pastor of Light of the World Christian Church said that only with the help of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and men and women who are committed to God, will such violence be avoided. "That's the only way we're going to get out of this, because it takes a certain kind of person to harm a child."
โผLashonna Bates was a Victim of homicide, A young life taken far too soon...she was described as a good girl, who has been through so much in her life. Lashonna Disappeared at the age of 11 after her and her friends waited at a near by bus stop for school, Lashonna ventured off into a village pantry while her friends were yelling to her that the bus was coming, but Lashonna never appeared and eventually 2 months later , a suspect led police to her body which was found in a wooded area.
Hundreds try to make sense of girl's death; Friends and strangers alike grieve for LaShonna Bates, as funeral speakers promise her passing won't be in vain.
by JAMES L. PATTERSON JR.
A slain 11-year-old girl's funeral Saturday drew more than 300 people, many of whom had never met LaShonna Marie Bates. But the most moving scene at the funeral of the Indianapolis girl involved several dozen who knew her well: her fourth-grade classmates who tried desperately to do the grown-up thing and hold their emotions in check.
They failed.
The funeral amounted to a solemn lesson to LaShonna's classmates from School 46, who wore white carnations pinned near their hearts. Pain was also evident on the faces of more than a dozen members of LaShonna's family who sat in front pews at First Christian Missionary Baptist Church, trying to hold back tears during the two-hour funeral.
"We're living in some perilous times," said the Rev. T. Garrott Benjamin, who presided at the funeral. "Not only are we killing each other, but we are killing our children. "This is the first generation in our history where children have killed children. Where children have been under assault," he said.
LaShonna disappeared Feb. 15 after failing to board her school bus at Arizona and Meridian streets.
A massive search by family, friends, police and community organizations failed to turn up clues.
But on April 5, the decomposed body of a girl roughly matching LaShonna's description was found by chance in a wooded area near Massachusetts and Euclid avenues.
More than a week ago, DNA test results confirmed the body was LaShonna's. Her skull had been fractured, but investigators were unsure if that caused her death. The case is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been made.
The search for the missing girl transcended race and brought neighborhoods together, said School 46 Principal Phyllis Imel, who spoke at the funeral.
Several speakers used the funeral to urge anyone with knowledge of LaShonna's death to contact police.
Indianapolis Police Capt. Robert B. Turner promised that the search for her killer would continue. "That search (for LaShonna) is over today, but I want you to know that the investigation is not over," Turner said during the funeral. He encouraged parents to spend more time with their children and not leave them alone too often.
In brief remarks, Center Township Trustee Julia Carson said LaShonna's life will not have been in vain. As a young girl, she belonged to all of us, Carson said.
Her death brought Indianapolis together, said the Rev. Damon S. Roach, pastor of First Christian Missionary Baptist Church. "We can't do anything to bring this child back. She is with God," Rev. Roach said. "We pray that the person responsible for this atrocity will first ask for forgiveness, because this person needs forgiveness. And then we pray that this person be brought to justice." The death is a tragic commentary on what people have become, said Rev. Benjamin.
The senior pastor of Light of the World Christian Church said that only with the help of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and men and women who are committed to God, will such violence be avoided. "That's the only way we're going to get out of this, because it takes a certain kind of person to harm a child."
โผLashonna Bates was a Victim of homicide, A young life taken far too soon...she was described as a good girl, who has been through so much in her life. Lashonna Disappeared at the age of 11 after her and her friends waited at a near by bus stop for school, Lashonna ventured off into a village pantry while her friends were yelling to her that the bus was coming, but Lashonna never appeared and eventually 2 months later , a suspect led police to her body which was found in a wooded area.
Indianapolis Star---May 8, 1994
Hundreds try to make sense of girl's death; Friends and strangers alike grieve for LaShonna Bates, as funeral speakers promise her passing won't be in vain.
by JAMES L. PATTERSON JR.
A slain 11-year-old girl's funeral Saturday drew more than 300 people, many of whom had never met LaShonna Marie Bates. But the most moving scene at the funeral of the Indianapolis girl involved several dozen who knew her well: her fourth-grade classmates who tried desperately to do the grown-up thing and hold their emotions in check.
They failed.
The funeral amounted to a solemn lesson to LaShonna's classmates from School 46, who wore white carnations pinned near their hearts. Pain was also evident on the faces of more than a dozen members of LaShonna's family who sat in front pews at First Christian Missionary Baptist Church, trying to hold back tears during the two-hour funeral.
"We're living in some perilous times," said the Rev. T. Garrott Benjamin, who presided at the funeral. "Not only are we killing each other, but we are killing our children. "This is the first generation in our history where children have killed children. Where children have been under assault," he said.
LaShonna disappeared Feb. 15 after failing to board her school bus at Arizona and Meridian streets.
A massive search by family, friends, police and community organizations failed to turn up clues.
But on April 5, the decomposed body of a girl roughly matching LaShonna's description was found by chance in a wooded area near Massachusetts and Euclid avenues.
More than a week ago, DNA test results confirmed the body was LaShonna's. Her skull had been fractured, but investigators were unsure if that caused her death. The case is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been made.
The search for the missing girl transcended race and brought neighborhoods together, said School 46 Principal Phyllis Imel, who spoke at the funeral.
Several speakers used the funeral to urge anyone with knowledge of LaShonna's death to contact police.
Indianapolis Police Capt. Robert B. Turner promised that the search for her killer would continue. "That search (for LaShonna) is over today, but I want you to know that the investigation is not over," Turner said during the funeral. He encouraged parents to spend more time with their children and not leave them alone too often.
In brief remarks, Center Township Trustee Julia Carson said LaShonna's life will not have been in vain. As a young girl, she belonged to all of us, Carson said.
Her death brought Indianapolis together, said the Rev. Damon S. Roach, pastor of First Christian Missionary Baptist Church. "We can't do anything to bring this child back. She is with God," Rev. Roach said. "We pray that the person responsible for this atrocity will first ask for forgiveness, because this person needs forgiveness. And then we pray that this person be brought to justice." The death is a tragic commentary on what people have become, said Rev. Benjamin.
The senior pastor of Light of the World Christian Church said that only with the help of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and men and women who are committed to God, will such violence be avoided. "That's the only way we're going to get out of this, because it takes a certain kind of person to harm a child."
โผLashonna Bates was a Victim of homicide, A young life taken far too soon...she was described as a good girl, who has been through so much in her life. Lashonna Disappeared at the age of 11 after her and her friends waited at a near by bus stop for school, Lashonna ventured off into a village pantry while her friends were yelling to her that the bus was coming, but Lashonna never appeared and eventually 2 months later , a suspect led police to her body which was found in a wooded area.
Hundreds try to make sense of girl's death; Friends and strangers alike grieve for LaShonna Bates, as funeral speakers promise her passing won't be in vain.
by JAMES L. PATTERSON JR.
A slain 11-year-old girl's funeral Saturday drew more than 300 people, many of whom had never met LaShonna Marie Bates. But the most moving scene at the funeral of the Indianapolis girl involved several dozen who knew her well: her fourth-grade classmates who tried desperately to do the grown-up thing and hold their emotions in check.
They failed.
The funeral amounted to a solemn lesson to LaShonna's classmates from School 46, who wore white carnations pinned near their hearts. Pain was also evident on the faces of more than a dozen members of LaShonna's family who sat in front pews at First Christian Missionary Baptist Church, trying to hold back tears during the two-hour funeral.
"We're living in some perilous times," said the Rev. T. Garrott Benjamin, who presided at the funeral. "Not only are we killing each other, but we are killing our children. "This is the first generation in our history where children have killed children. Where children have been under assault," he said.
LaShonna disappeared Feb. 15 after failing to board her school bus at Arizona and Meridian streets.
A massive search by family, friends, police and community organizations failed to turn up clues.
But on April 5, the decomposed body of a girl roughly matching LaShonna's description was found by chance in a wooded area near Massachusetts and Euclid avenues.
More than a week ago, DNA test results confirmed the body was LaShonna's. Her skull had been fractured, but investigators were unsure if that caused her death. The case is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been made.
The search for the missing girl transcended race and brought neighborhoods together, said School 46 Principal Phyllis Imel, who spoke at the funeral.
Several speakers used the funeral to urge anyone with knowledge of LaShonna's death to contact police.
Indianapolis Police Capt. Robert B. Turner promised that the search for her killer would continue. "That search (for LaShonna) is over today, but I want you to know that the investigation is not over," Turner said during the funeral. He encouraged parents to spend more time with their children and not leave them alone too often.
In brief remarks, Center Township Trustee Julia Carson said LaShonna's life will not have been in vain. As a young girl, she belonged to all of us, Carson said.
Her death brought Indianapolis together, said the Rev. Damon S. Roach, pastor of First Christian Missionary Baptist Church. "We can't do anything to bring this child back. She is with God," Rev. Roach said. "We pray that the person responsible for this atrocity will first ask for forgiveness, because this person needs forgiveness. And then we pray that this person be brought to justice." The death is a tragic commentary on what people have become, said Rev. Benjamin.
The senior pastor of Light of the World Christian Church said that only with the help of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and men and women who are committed to God, will such violence be avoided. "That's the only way we're going to get out of this, because it takes a certain kind of person to harm a child."
โผLashonna Bates was a Victim of homicide, A young life taken far too soon...she was described as a good girl, who has been through so much in her life. Lashonna Disappeared at the age of 11 after her and her friends waited at a near by bus stop for school, Lashonna ventured off into a village pantry while her friends were yelling to her that the bus was coming, but Lashonna never appeared and eventually 2 months later , a suspect led police to her body which was found in a wooded area.
