Precious Lives

Stories about kids, guns and how to stop the violence. Precious Lives, created by 371 Productions, is a 2-year, 100-part weekly radio series about gun violence and young people in the Milwaukee area. The series applies a public health lens to each story to help listeners understand the full scope of the problem: who are the victims and the shooters; how are the weapons obtained; and what can we change about the environment that contributes to violence in Milwaukee?

#079 Precious Lives: Planting A Legacy for 9-Year-Old Lost to Gun Violence

WUWM 89.7 FM

Published July 19, 2016 at 2:04 PM CDT

Za'layia's mom Destiny talks about losing her daughter. Behind her is a poster of Za'layia, gifted by the funeral home where Za'layia was put to rest.

Destiny Boone remembers her daughter Za'layia as a sassy, creative girl who loved to rap, write and help take care of her younger siblings.

Destiny is still wrapping her head around losing her nine-year-old daughter. Za’layia was the victim of a stray bullet that struck her during a shootout on May 5th, 2016.

As the family copes with the loss of a child, Destiny’s aunt, Ramona, is working to make sure Za’layia is never forgotten.

Ramona Boone has paired up with the Peace Garden Project to establish the Za’layia Legacy Garden. The garden will honor all victims of gun violence and will sit at 15th and Meinecke, across from where Za’layia was shot.

Ramona is busy planning, drumming up support and seeking donations to help make her dream of a peace garden come to life. If you’d like to be part of this effort please contact Ramona Boone at rboone3382@gmail.com or visit the garden’s Go Fund Me site.

Corresponding Content:

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Mother relives fatal shooting of 9-year-old daughter