MIAMI – The family of Kaely Camacho, a 13-year-old girl killed in a crash involving a driver suspected of driving drunk two weeks ago, were grappling with the freshest pain at Thursday's National Crime Victim's Rights Remembrance Ceremony.
"I just want to tell everybody that's here, all the other victims, unfortunately for us, I guess, this is our turn to be saddened," said Kirk Camacho, the teen's father.
The ceremony and news conference was hosted by the State Attorney's Office and shared by families of men, women and children who have been victims of various crimes in Miami-Dade County.
The grandson of Eyder Ayala, who was killed driving home from work last October, said the family is still reeling. Police said Ayala was struck by a University of Miami student who was driving drunk. Anwar Sadeek spoke to the crowd while clutching a photograph of his grandmother in his hands.
Also at the ceremony was the family of Sherdavia Jenkins, the 9-year-old girl who was killed in the crossfire of two men with guns in 2006 as she was playing on the porch of her Liberty City home. A photograph of the smiling young girl became a symbol of innocent victims of gun violence everywhere.
"I'm grateful because I know I'm not alone, because they're going through the same thing I went through," said mother Sherron Jenkins.
Camacho's parents, holding hands and weeping as they sat in the front of the news conference, did not speak to the audience as other families had. Kirk Camacho said later in an interview that his family knows they are now part of a bigger one.
"I don't want any of these people who are also victims to feel that we're overshadowing what they're going through. They're here just as bad or worse than us, and I just want that to be said," he said. "I love all you guys, and sorry for your losses, as well."