Rally marks first anniversary of Washington murder at playground
Tamarra Ratley, the mother of Marius Chatman, and other family members held a rally on the first anniversary of Chatman’s death outside the Washington police station Friday.
TreyVonna Hoberek, 17, the sister of Marius Chatman, places flowers at the spot where her brother was killed at the Seventh Ward Playground in Washington during a rally for justice Friday on the first anniversary of Chatman’s death.
Tamarra Ratley, the mother of Marius Chatman, lights a paper lantern during a rally for justice Friday on the first anniversary of his death at Seventh Ward Playground in Washington.
Tamarra Ratley said she’s had the worst year of her life when she joined about 30 people in a rally that began outside the Washington police station Friday to call for justice on the first anniversary of her son’s execution-style murder at a city playground.
“It’s hard. It’s hard. It’s hard,” said Ratley, of Washington, before the group marched to the Seventh Ward playground where Marius TreVaughn Chatman was found dead March 4, 2015, with nine gunshot wounds to his body.
Some who attended the rally claimed police have been dragging their feet in the Chatman case, that the black man’s murder would have been receiving more attention in the media had he been white.
Washington police Chief Robert Wilson said race does not matter when police investigate a death.
“It’s going to take time,” Wilson said. “We are investigating.”
Wilson said city police need help from the public in solving the crime.
“Nobody wants to talk,” he said.
Ratley said she’s trying to be patient during the investigation.
“With as many people who claim to love him, this parking lot should be full,” Ratley said at the rally in the lot off 56 W. Strawberry Way.
Police said Chatman, 24, received cellphone calls the night of his death to lure him to the murder scene. His partially nude body was found at School and D alleys, adjacent to the playground. A motive for the homicide has not been revealed.
“I’m 30 years old, and I’ve lost a lot of friends to circumstances,” said Chatman’s friend, Trey Willis. “This is the worst.”
Those who attended the rally and march carried hand-lettered signs stating such messages as “put the guns down” and “march for Marius.” Later, at the playground, they gathered at the location where Chatman’s body was found, lit candles and prayed. The march ended with the release of paper lanterns and balloons.
“This family needs justice and closure,” said Suzanne Kelley, whose brother-in-law, Vincent Kelley, 46, was shot and killed while he tried to stop a bank robber at a South Strabane Township supermarket in June 2013. That murder is a cold case.