'Wake up, stand up and listen up': Goldsboro residents rally to end gun violence in wake of teen's death

No suspects have been named in a pool party shooting 11 days ago that took the life of a 15-year-old girl and injured five other teens. The mother of the girl spoke publicly for the first time at the rally

Posted 1:50 a.m. Apr 24, 2023 — Updated 9:38 a.m. Apr 24, 2023

Brett Knese

, WRAL multimedia journalist

GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The Goldsboro community continues to come together after six teens were shot, one of them fatally, at a spring break pool party 11 days ago.

On Sunday, advocates held a rally against gun violence where for the first time, where the mother of 15-year-old Joyonna Pearsall, the teen killed during the shooting, spoke for the first time since the death of her daughter.

After Sunday’s rally, the Pearsall family came over to a mural of her, dedicated it and prayed over it together while her family and the community continues to search for answers.

"Shouldn't no parent have to go through what I went through; shouldn’t no parent have to feel the pain," said Keonda Pearsall, Joyonna's mother. "My heart aches daily, day-in-and-day-out i can’t go a moment without seeing that vision of her laying on that ground."

Teenagers took to the mic and spoke out against the violence, as did community leaders at the T.C. Coley Community Center.

The center was the site of today's rally demanding justice as Goldsboro has seen an increase in gun violence.

“I feel like it shouldn’t have went this far for us to realize that the guns need to be put down, and life is not a game," said one teen who spoke at the event. "It can be taken from you at any moment."

Organizers handed out flyers for a call to action, urging residents to stand up against gun violence.

"It’s easy to speak about the victim. It’s easy to get out here and say 'Long live Joyonna,' but it should be just as easy to say 'Nah, he did it. He did it. He was shooting,'" said Richard Taylor, a Goldsboro resident.

'We have to do something': Family of teen killed in Goldsboro advocates to end gun violence

Former state representative Raymond Smith announced the Safe Place for Teens Program, an initiative he hopes to get state, county and city funding for that will provide teens in the community programs and events.

Organizations that want to host an event will be able to apply for funds that will pay for the venue, food, and security.

"There is no reason why our teenagers in this community should not feel safe in congregating and having a good time," Smith said.

Residents gathered at a rallly to end gun violence in Goldsboro

Goldsboro police have yet to make any arrests in the pool party shooting. Keonda and others continue to plea for someone to come forward with information.

Meanwhile, the calls to end gun violence continue to grow and the voices like Keonda's seeking justice for this shooting and others are only getting louder, as they plea for people with information to come forward.

"I want y’all to wake up, stand up and listen up. We will get justice for my baby," Keonda said.

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