34 names of homicide victims added to Boston's Garden of Peace

BOSTON — The visual reminder of the impact homicide has in Massachusetts had 34 more names added to it this week.

Every stone and every brick bears the name of lives lost to violence in one of the world's most populated cities.

"I was driving when I received the call that my son was shot dead," said Susan Rawlinson of Charlestown. "This needs to stop now, the violence."

Family members who have lost loved ones to violence gather every year at the Garden of Peace on Boston to add more names.

"My son Andrew was murdered when he was 18 years old," said Christine Abrams, of Quincy. "When Andrew was first murdered my question was, 'How do I survive this?' because I just thought I didn't know what to do or where to go I didn't know what resources were available to me."

Andrew Colwell was shot an killed in Mansfield in 2008. His killer was tried and convicted and is currently serving 25 years in prison.

Susan Rawlinson's son, Steven Jones, was murdered in Charlestown in 2013 while trying to break up a fight. His killer pleaded guilty.

Christi Berry, of Worcester, still doesn't know who killer her son Travis Monroe in a hit and run accident in 2005.

"I'm actually in school pursuing a criminal justice background, I have an associates degree and I'm pursuing a bachelors to find out what I can learn to make sure this case is solvable or at least."

These three mothers have different stories, but they all share the same pain.

Now, they are guiding many others through the journey of grief, preparing them for all the phone calls and answers they might not get.

"The biggest thing is not hearing him call me 'Ma,' the phone doesn't ring anymore but that's where this comes in and you can join other people and know that he's at peace I'm not alone and I'm not the only on that feels that way."

The Massachusetts Attorney General and the Suffolk County District Attorney spoke today to the group about curbing violence and changing laws to help provide resources to survivors.

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Cox Media Group