The family and loved ones of 7-year-old Kamari Hughes honored his life and memory at his funeral service on Nov. 10.
Photos by Jada Camille
Family and friends remembered 7-year-old Kamari Hughes as a “kid with a huge heart, stern beliefs and a lot of energy” at his funeral service in Clinton Hill on Thursday, two weeks after he was killed by the driver of an NYPD tow truck while crossing the street.
A pillar of Spider-man balloons guarded Hughes’ casket at the foot of the altar in Brown Memorial Baptist Church as some of his second grade classmates sat amongst the mourners.
“I love my baby with everything I have. I would give anything to get him back,” Kamari’s mother, Taqunda Hughes, told those gathered Thursday evening. “No matter what happened in this world, my baby knew his mommy loved him.”
The 7-year-old was riding his scooter across the intersection of North Portland Avenue and Myrtle Avenue shortly early that morning when a police tow truck made a right hand turn onto North Portland Avenue, striking and killing him in front of Taqunda.
“I watched my baby be born into this world ever so quietly. He made not one sound. I watched him be taken. I did. And I’ve been standing ten toes down ever since,” Taqunda said, recalling Kamri’s death on the morning of Oct. 26.
The driver, Stephanie Sharp, was arrested in connection with the incident; witnesses said she did not initially stop after striking Hughes, only coming to a halt when bystanders flagged her down.
Hughes’ death has reinforced calls for more crossing guards in Brooklyn’s school zones after Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD cut almost 500 of the city’s school crossing guard positions earlier this year.
Speaking at Kamari’s funeral, New York Attorney General Letitia James threw her support behind the need for more crossing guards.
“May the crossing guards along Myrtle Avenue stay there permanently, now and forever, so that we can keep the babies…
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