A mural, a moment of silence, and a mother's message

Telonn "Lonny" Horton was 29 years old when he was shot and killed at Davis Street Park in Kalamazoo on April 17, 2026. Two months later, the community that knew him gathered at the same skate park to remember him.

Neighbors, friends, and family came together Saturday, June 27, for the 6th Annual Resource and Resilience Gun Violence Rally. The event honored Horton and aimed to reclaim the park where he died.

"I would love for people to remember that my son was always a cheerful spirit," Horton's mother, Jerell Horton, said, according to WMUK.

The mural that stands at Davis Street Park

Just feet away from the skate ramps at Davis Street Park, a new mural now depicts Horton. Local artist Patrick Hershberger, also known as Bonus Saves, painted the tribute. The mural was finished in mid-June, ahead of the rally.

Hershberger's work shows Horton as a frequent skater at the park. The Vine Neighborhood Association and several community groups helped organize the rally and the mural effort.

The sixth annual rally

The Vine Neighborhood Association and partner organizations hosted the Resource and Resilience Rally at Davis Street Park from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on June 27. The event marked the sixth year of the annual gathering.

Attendees observed a moment of silence for Horton. The rally focused on gun violence prevention and neighborhood safety. Groups providing resources were on site to connect with residents.

A park fighting for its future

Davis Street Park sits in Kalamazoo's Vine neighborhood. The park has become a focal point for community resilience after Horton's death. The mural and rally signal an effort to turn a site of tragedy into a place of remembrance and action.

According to WWMT and MLive, the rally drew a crowd of neighbors who said final goodbyes to Horton. Friends described him as someone who left an example for the community.

No arrests have been publicly announced in connection with Horton's April shooting, according to available reporting.

What comes next

The Resource and Resilience Rally is an annual event in Kalamazoo. This year's gathering centered on Horton's memory and the broader issue of gun violence in the city. Community leaders and residents used the rally to share resources and push for safer neighborhoods.

Horton's mother asked the community to remember his cheerful spirit. The mural at Davis Street Park ensures that visitors to the skate park will see his face every day.

Sources:

  • WWMT: "'Brothers forever': Friends say final goodbyes for Kalamazoo man killed..." (June 27, 2026)
  • MLive: "A mural, a moment of resilience: Community 'reclaims' Davis Street Park after fatal shooting" (June 27, 2026)
  • WMUK: "A new mural at Davis Street Park will commemorate Telonn 'Lonny' Horton" (June 18, 2026)
  • WOODTV: "Family honors son's memory at Kalamazoo rally" (June 27, 2026)
  • AOL/NowKalamazoo: "Kalamazoo mural honors legacy of skater shot, killed at park" (June 2026)