By: Tom Williams | June 12, 2025
Clarksdale, MS — In 2017, tragedy struck Lekitha Hill’s life in the most unimaginable way. Her only child, Dayeveon Hill, a beloved high school senior with a bright future, was shot and killed in Clarksdale. The loss of her son shattered her world, but also ignited a powerful determination to make sure his death—and the countless others like it—would not be in vain.
“I joined Moms Demand Action after losing my only child,” Hill said. “I had no idea how I would go on living without him. He was my everything.”
Moms Demand Action, a grassroots movement founded in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, gave Hill a platform to channel her grief into purpose. She now uses her voice to advocate for stronger gun laws and to support other families impacted by gun violence.
“I don’t think gun violence will ever fully end—it’s always been present,” Hill shared. “But I do believe it can be controlled with more intense laws.”
Dayeveon, affectionately known as “The YAC Back of 2017” for his football talent, was more than an athlete. He was a vibrant, stylish, and loving young man with a smile that, as Hill describes, “could light up a room.” Known for his smooth style—“Michael Jackson smooth,” she says—Dayeveon left an impression on everyone he met. “To know him was to love him.”
His loss changed Hill forever. “He was perfect in every way, and he was mine—but he belonged to the Lord,” she said. “His death made me determined to save another life from gun violence.”
Still learning how to grieve, Hill admits that some days are harder than others. “It’s a day-to-day experience,” she said. “But what helps me cope is knowing he had 18 wonderful years as my son. He was raised in love and he knew he was loved.”
The hardest part for her has been trying to figure out how to live without him. “How could I be okay without him?” she asks.
Fueled by that pain and love, Hill founded The Daye 5 Foundation in 2017. The foundation works to raise awareness, educate youth, and support families devastated by gun violence. “Dayeveon’s death affected not just our family—it rippled through his friends, teammates, and our entire community,” she said.
Hill’s passion for justice has only intensified over time. “Justice for me looks like proper investigations, holding all parties accountable, and a DA’s office that fights for victims and their families,” she said. “Justice shouldn’t take eight years and counting.”
The case involving her son has highlighted major gaps in the justice system and gun laws. “The young man who killed Dayeveon was already out on bond for a gun charge when he killed my son,” Hill explained. “And after that, he bonded out again—and while out, he was accused of shooting four more people and killing another individual. If proper laws had been in place, he wouldn’t have had that kind of access to a gun.”
Her story, as heartbreaking as it is, also offers a powerful call to action. “I hope to change the hearts and minds of anyone who owns or has access to a gun,” Hill said. “This didn’t just affect one family—it devastated two families. Two beautiful young men are gone, and we’re left with pain.”
The community is invited to hear more of Lekitha Hill’s story—and stand with her in solidarity—at the upcoming Moms Demand Action event on Saturday, June 14, from 12 PM to 4 PM at the Delta Blues Museum Stage in downtown Clarksdale. Fellow survivors Rose Jordan and Ebony Johnson will also share their stories.
Together, these women are not just mourning the sons they lost. They are fighting to save the lives that remain.
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