‘Landon was a star.’ Family of child killed in shooting celebrates his 11th birthday
Family and friends of a fifth-grader who died in a shooting earlier this month celebrated what would have been the boy’s 11th birthday Tuesday night.
Scores of people gathered at Landon Hayes’ family’s home on Corral Street, where they sang “Happy Birthday” before joining a car caravan through the East End neighborhood.
“We’re just enjoying his day for him. It’s a community thing,” said Landon’s mother, Ariane Brown.
There was music, dancing and balloons. Landon grinned down from a larger-than-life mural that had been painted on the front of the garage by a local artist.
His mother said he had a big personality.
“Landon was a star,” she said. “Landon was a prince. ...He was very well loved.”
Landon, a fifth-grader at Ashland Elementary, died after being shot at a home on North Upper Street Feb. 6 in a murder-suicide that also involved Tyrus Lathem, 22, police said.
Brown said the family planned to visit the cemetery later Tuesday evening.
Alvin Brown, Landon’s grandfather, remembered how Landon would get off the school bus and meet up with his buddies at the park.
“He had friends from three or four streets over,” he said. “He was very charismatic.”
Landon played for the Lexington Ravens youth football team.
“He’s sorely missed,” Alvin Brown said.
The national suicide prevention hotline is open 24/7 and can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. Additionally, the Crisis Text Line is available 24/7 for those needing emotional crisis support. It can be reached by texting HELLO to 741741.
