Mother of a young victim weighs in on "Day of Hope" in Darley Park

NE BALTIMORE, Md. - Hugging a young girl, indulging in cotton candy, Edith Turnage has not turned her back on Darley Park in Northeast Baltimore.  She's standing at her daughter's school, William C. March Middle, and wearing 13-year-old Monae's picture on her shirt.

"I thought I was being really, really safe with my kids, always with me, always with me all the time," said Turnage.    

Back in March, police say Monae was accidentally shot by a 13-year-old boy; a 12 year old helped him move her body. 

"They never called 911 and they put her out like trash," said Turnage. 

It turns out an adult and city police officer were also involved.  But Turnage isn’t hiding with anger.

About 300 volunteers are making people smile.  Free haircuts, a free kids zone, there's hot dogs and dancing.  Churches, businesses, police officers are all together.

Major Melvin Russell says the event leads to better community policing.

"We're able to solve more crimes.  We're able to get more information from the community where before there was a disconnect between community and police because they didn't trust the police.  But now they trust the police.  They call us on our cell phones.  I'm talking about down to my foot men and my officers.  They have everyone's cell phones.  So now they're talking to police where before, 'I'm not telling you nothing that’s on going in the community,’” said Major Russell.   

Turnage will continue to support her neighborhood even though many people failed her daughter, a bubbly girl who wanted to be a pediatrician.  She remains hopeful.

"A change of mind, a change of attitude, and to look out for not only their kids but to look out for other kids around here.  And be responsible.  If something happens, be responsible for it," said Turnage.  

It was the second year for the Day of Hope in Darley Park.

As we reported in May, Edith Turnage believes the boys got a slap on the wrist. 

A juvenile court determined the 12 year old will be home monitored in Harford County.  The 13 year old is spending six months in a juvenile center on the Eastern Shore.