HOUSTON – Relatives of victims killed in Harris County came together Sunday to remember their loved ones during a ceremony at City Hall in Houston.
"Any time my son's name is going to be said, I'm going to be there," Dana Mielke said.
Her 19-year-old son, Peter Mielke, was gunned down in February at Reginelli's Pizza in Bellaire. Mielke worked at the restaurant and was in the process of closing for the day.
"My son was murdered by a man who was on parole, whose parole should not have been violated," Mielke said, clutching her son's picture.
Victims' families brought pictures, shared stories and shed tears as city and county officials spoke on the importance of seeking justice.
"To the parents, or to the family members of murdered children, thank you for continuing to make a difference," Interim Chief Martha Montalvo, with the Houston Police Department, said.
Presenters read the names of some 300 victims who were killed within the past year. Some cases have been solved while others remain open.
The death of Darrion Dixon, who was killed in May 2016, remains unsolved. Dixon's mother, Kimberly Dixon, urged anyone who has information that could lead to an arrest to come forward.
"I want to know why would you take my son's life? At 19 years old, what did he do? I don't understand it," she said.
The push for justice has made the loss even tougher for families still waiting to have their cases solved.
Community leaders spoke of the importance of victims' families coming together to share their stories.
"It's hard and it's unfair and at the end of the day everything happens for a reason and we're all united for whatever brought us together," said La'Voshea Hendry, from No More Victims, Inc, an advocacy organization for children of incarcerated parents.