The sudden loss of his 20-year-old grandson, Daryus Clarke, has left Cultural Ambassador Chief Omowale Anthony “Mighty Gabby” Carter inconsolable, but he feels even worse for Daryus’ mother who has lost two loved ones in the past several years.
While working at a Plug Smoke Shop on Jamaica Avenue in Queens, New York, close to his South Jamaica residence, Clarke was fatally shot during an armed robbery.
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The calypsonian learned of the news while writing a new song. He claimed to be in complete shock after hearing the news. He shared that the fact that Clarke’s mother, Keisha, is dealing with not only her son’s murder, but that of her mother just four years ago to gun violence in 2019, is what is most torturous for him emotionally. At the time of her death, Keisha’s mother was on a vacation trip to Barbados.
The grieving grandfather expressed his emotions as best he could in less than 30 minutes, sharing the following phrases to his Facebook page:
A SENSELESS KILLING
I was in the process of writing
Yet another song
The phone then started ringing
Somehow, both loud and strong
The song that I was writing
(Get your thoughts together)
Is Simply Entitled:
‘MASS MURDER IN AMERICA’
I answered reluctantly
(Not wanting to break the flow)
“Ju I will call you back
In five minutes or so”
“No No Dad
This is so sad
Waiting can not be done
We have just lost Daryus
To a senseless gun.”
I don’t know what I then said
(probably nothing worth mentioning)
If I answered in silence
Then that silence was deafening
I know my grandson is not one
To deal with violence
So weird pictures began to appear
(None that made any sense)
The thought of going back to that song
Was knocked out of my mind
Knots and blocks
Pain and shocks
Sweat covered each palm
Outwardly
There I was
Trying to be calm
When I finished speaking with Ju
I tried to comprehend
How did it happen
Why did it happen
Since Ju had told me when
I then called Kiesha
The mother of my grandson
To discuss this murder
My eyes saw that gun
Ki’s mother, Ann
Came to this land
To spend a vacation
A few years ago
And look just so
A gun ended her life in this sun
Imagine losing your mother
So mindless
(That’s no fun)
And practically two mornings later
You also lose your son?
Both were innocent victims
Unarmed, causing no strife
Is it out of fashion these days
To put a value on life?
God is in the midst of us
This thing is hurting me
I thank each one
For your messages and calls
Condolences and sympathy
Yet it is for Kiesha
That I am hurting the most
May her son
(My grandson Daryus)
Sit with the Heavenly Hosts
Written by
Chief Omowale Anthony Carter,
Mighty Gabby
March 20th, 2023. From 8:51 am to 9:16 am.
