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Brandon Michael Brooks

Age 18

Little Rock, Arkansas

Dancer. Class clown. His mother’s “baby.”

He danced to all kinds of music. He was “a class clown …. [He] was always making people laugh,” according to his mother.  

His sharp, serious expression gave way to a bright, wide smile. “He was my baby,” his mother said.

On May 8, 2018, police found 18-year-old Brandon Michael Brooks shot in the back bedroom of a house in Little Rock, Arkansas. He died from his wounds in a nearby hospital. His death marked the city’s 16th homicide of the year. Two other young men, ages 23 and 16, who were also shot and taken to the hospital with Brooks, survived. Reporters called it “a violent night in Little Rock.”

By Nathalia Wyss · Age 15
Meet the Reporters

More than 100 jokesters

Natwan Kian Holyfield

Supposed to go to homecoming, prom

Kaiden Vague

Sixteenth birthday. Golden birthday. Last birthday.

Eric Xavier Degori

His jokes could make anyone laugh

Will Earl Davis Jr.

The rising senior was always smiling

Rashiya Melton

Joins brother, leaves behind her twin

Edgar Alan Espino

Jokester loved to make people laugh

Daron Johnson

He went to celebrate another’s life

Jayvone J. Shackelford-Bishop

Friends together like Lilo & Stitch

Deandre Moon

Overnight tragedy for a basketball fan

Terale Claridy-Vaught

‘Solid’ friend barely gets to adulthood

Robert Carranza

He liked to post song lyrics

Amauri Green

Died while fixing a flat tire

Eddie Daiquan Grant

A devoted boyfriend and rap fan

Bryan Portales Escalante

Phone, wallet, shoes and, life — gone

Darion Gordon

Sixteen years erased by one bullet

Steven Alexander Jr.

He missed his first Father’s Day

Jonathan David Freeman Jr.

Debated anything, from music to Deflategate

Matthew James Jurado

Challenging student had a compassionate heart

Ryan J. Dillon

A playful boy, stopped by bullets

Manuel Lopez Jr.

High school senior set to graduate