At Lock It For Life, we aim to address the deep effects of loss in various forms. Loss is not only about death; it can also mean losing who someone was before the violence and their unrealized potential. We believe that every loss, no matter how small, matters and requires action. We promote awareness, education, and prevention to help reduce unnecessary losses and enhance lives. Together, we can build resilience and support, helping everyone find strength during tough times. This is our commitment—this is our purpose. Below are those we stand for.
If you would like to include a victim of gun violence in on this page, we kindly ask that you send us their picture along with their story. We will gladly and compassionately add them to our collection to help honor them and raise awareness.
Thank you for contributing to this important cause.
On May 31, 2021, Guy, who was only 17 years old at the time, was tragically shot in the head by a bullet from a ghost gun, which was accidentally fired by his best friend, who “hoped” that the chamber was empty and that everything would be fine. The prognosis was initially grim, but against all odds, Guy miraculously walked out of the hospital 19 days later, displaying an incredible will to survive. However, he emerged from that harrowing ordeal forever changed in ways that extend beyond physical recovery. He now carries the scars of that day, both seen and unseen, having lost an eye and facing the ongoing challenges of chronic epilepsy, along with various mental health and memory issues. Additionally, he meets regularly with a multitude of medical specialists to manage his complex condition. Notably, the bullet and bone fragments remain embedded in his brain, a constant reminder of the incident.
Jonah took his life with an unsecured firearm of his father’s one month after his 17th birthday, on October 19th, 2016. He was larger than life, loved Sonic the Hedgehog, football, basketball and art. He coached his high school football team through math and was a member of the National Honor Society. He left behind three little brothers, one who can no longer remember how Jonah would hold him in the air, laughing, while he yelled, “Jonah, you’re like a tree!” The roots that Jonah left behind run deep and affected so many. Please take the time to secure your guns separately from their ammunition to avoid tragedies like Jonah’s.
LaRonte Benion Phillips, 18, was killed Friday, March 4, after being shot multiple times in an Ypsilanti Township neighborhood. Phillips, who turned 18 in January, was attending online classes through Ypsilanti Community Schools and was on track to graduate in June.
He was planning to join the Air Force, like his grandfather did, after graduating and enjoyed playing basketball and football, playing for Ypsilanti Middle School when he was younger, and also loved to rap, spending much of his free time recording music. Anytime he had money, he would use it to buy studio time.