Trae'Nez L. Brown Jr.
Age 15
Cahokia, Illinois
Excited about Independence Day. Never came.
Every Fourth of July, he looked forward to barbecuing and popping fireworks with his family. He loved his family, especially his mom, and his sister, who called him her best friend.
He promised them that the day he turned 16, he would get a job to help support them. He also played football and was loved by his coaches and teammates. “When he put his mind to something, he does it,” his mother said.
On July 2, 2018, Trae’Nez L. Brown Jr. was shot and killed on Westwood Drive in Cahokia, Illinois. He was 15 years old.