Tons of of individuals gathered within the 1500 block of Grove Road in San Francisco this week in a temper each solemn and celebratory as the road was renamed for Aubrey Abrakasa Jr., a 17-year-old boy who was killed there 18 years in the past.
Mayor London Breed, Police Chief Invoice Scott, District Legal professional Brooke Jenkins, District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, mayor-elect Daniel Lurie and different metropolis leaders joined family and friends of {the teenager} as his title was unveiled on a brand new avenue signal.
“We haven’t forgotten about your case,” Scott mentioned as he gave Abrakasa’s mom, Paulette Brown, a dozen white roses. “Never give up on your son.”
On Aug. 14, 2006, Aubrey Abrakasa Jr. was fatally shot in broad daylight on the intersection of Grove and Baker streets, in accordance with San Francisco police.
His loss of life stays unsolved regardless of his mom’s relentless efforts to keep up regulation enforcement and public curiosity within the case.
There have been smiles and tears as family members and acquaintances thanked town for recognizing Abrakasa and shared their reminiscences of him.
Crime bulletin signal providing a $250,000 reward for info resulting in suspects liable for the homicide of Aubrey Abrakasa Jr. in San Fran Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Alise Maripuu/Bay Metropolis Information)
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“I’m not going to stop,” Brown mentioned. “As a mother, I still grieve. It’s been 18 years now. This is a little gift, a Christmas gift, a Thanksgiving gift, all of that in one bundle. My son loved Christmas.”
Preston, who represents the neighborhood the place Abrakasa was killed, helped spearhead efforts to rename the block in his honor.
“This is the least that I can do, that we can do as a city, given everything that you’ve done and been through,” Preston mentioned to Brown. “You have been fighting for over a decade to make sure that Aubrey, the memory of Aubrey, is not forgotten.”
We haven’t forgotten about your case… By no means quit in your son.
Paulette brown, aubrey Jr.’s mom
Bilal Mahmood, who defeated Preston within the November election, additionally got here to pay his respects. He praised Brown for her tireless seek for justice and having the ability to deliver so many metropolis officers and neighborhood members collectively.
“You see what Paulette has done here today,” he mentioned. “We have people who don’t normally meet in the same room, from City Hall to the community. We have police commissioners, to the sheriff’s office, all people here to come together because of the actions that you’ve taken.”
Two maybe unlikely to come back collectively have been Breed, who’s departing the mayor’s workplace, and Lurie, her successor.
Aubrey Abrakasa Jr.’s household, pals becoming a member of metropolis leaders to drag off the duvet of the brand new avenue sign up San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Alise Maripuu/Bay Metropolis Information)
Brown inspired Breed and Lurie to face aspect by aspect, which became a photograph op that attendees have been desirous to seize.
Lurie thanked Brown for inviting him to the ceremony and reassured her of his intentions to be an concerned chief for District 5 and town’s Black neighborhood.
“This is my first time meeting you in person,” Lurie mentioned to Brown. “I’m going to get to know you, get to know the community.”
“I appreciate you all having me here,” he mentioned. “I’m going to look to you for guidance and counsel, I promise.”
Metropolis officers and Abrakasa’s family members positioned their palms on the string connected toa black sheet protecting the brand new avenue signal. They counted down from 10 and pulled on the string.
Laughter erupted because the string broke. A metropolis employee got here to the rescue and pulled the duvet off. A shiny white rectangle with black letters, “Aubrey Abrakasa, Jr. Street,” was revealed to the delight of the gang.
“What we know is that sign is going nowhere,” Preston mentioned. “Every kid who comes to Pacific Primary School across the street, every person who lives on this block or in this neighborhood, and every person who comes to visit, they’re going to look up and see Aubrey Abrakasa Jr. Street and remember the name of Aubrey forever.”
