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Every holiday season, Crime Stoppers of Houston holds an event that gives loved ones of homicide victims an opportunity to remember them at what’s arguably one of the most emotional times of the year.
Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that the nonprofit organization held its 28th annual Holiday Memorial Remembrance Tree Ceremony on Saturday.
Crime Stoppers’ Andy Kahan told KHOU that the event forges a sense of community among those who lost a family member to senseless violence.
"All the families here, they are all walking in your shoes,” Kahan, a longtime crime victim advocate, said, the station reported. “Everybody knows what you are going through.”
Per the Crime Stoppers Facebook page, the trees at the event were decorated with personalized ornaments by victims’ relatives and friends.
KHOU reported that Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Harris County District Attorney (DA) Kim Ogg and a host of local leaders addressed the attendees.
Among them was Carla Tone, whose son was killed about four years ago.
"He got killed in 2018 in South Park,” Tone told the station, adding she still seeks justice for Dante Moltley's murder.
According to KHOU, the 2008 murder of Hank Johnson is among the slew of cold cases waiting to be solved.
"He was robbed and beaten,” Johnson’s mother, Sandy said, per the station.
The ceremony was held at the Crime Stoppers office at 3001 Main St. in Houston’s Midtown neighborhood.