CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – Charleston Police are still searching for a suspect who allegedly shot and killed a 29-year-old man on Charleston’s West Side.
That man, Dimitri Coleman, was a father of two young children. His mother said Dimitri was her world.
“I had Dimitri when I was 29. As he was 29,” Alvernita Coleman said. She said the connection she had with her son meant everything to her.
“It was just he and I for the longest time. So, it’s going to be real hard for me,” Coleman said. “He has a little girl, Easton, and she’s 3 years old. He has a son, Romeo, who is 5 years old.”
Man shot and killed on Charleston’s west side
Dimitri’s life was cut too short when he was shot and killed on May 25 along Railroad Avenue in Charleston. His death has devastated his family, his coworkers and his community.
“That has hurt a lot of people,” Coleman said. “Even at his job, [they] didn’t know anything, said they kept calling him calling him no answer until his sister went in and told them. She said the boss fell out and just cried and cried and cried. His boss. Now if his boss did that, you know Dimitri was good.”
This grief is a type of pain that Coleman said is unimaginable.
“Now I have to lay my child to rest Friday. I don’t get to see him anymore, and that’s not fair. It’s not fair at all. He won’t get to tell me ‘Happy birthday, Mommy’ or ‘Happy Mother’s Day,’” Coleman said. “And I hope no mother, even my worst enemy, ever has to go through that.”
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Not only is Coleman’s family hurting over the loss of Dimitri, but they want the suspect to be found immediately to prevent more violence from happening.
“I want him caught. Because I want to look at him in his face and ask him why did he do that to my son. And I want to hear his answer because I’m not going to get any peace or rest until he’s caught, and I get to see him face to face in court,” Coleman said. “Because he didn’t have to do that. I don’t know what the real problem was, but he still didn’t have to do it like that. Dimitri’s gone. He’s not coming back because of him.”
Dimitri Coleman’s funeral will be Friday, June 7. Anyone wanting to donate to his two children, Easton and Romeo, and support his family with funeral costs can donate online.
“I don’t get to see him smile anymore. My grandkids, his children, won’t get to see him anymore either,” Coleman said.