theGrio

Back to the Top

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • Health
    • Ask Dr. Ty
    • Black Men’s Health
    • Black Women and Breast Cancer
    • Back to School Health
  • Living
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Living Forward
    • Books
  • Politics
    • Perry on Politics
  • Sports
  • News
    • Good News
  • Opinion

News

Oakland toddler in rap video shooting dies

by theGrio | December 9, 2011 at 8:55 PM
Comments
Print
oakland-shooting.jpg

Related Posts

  • Police: 7 shot in Oakland were recording video
  • Oakland man arrested after child thrown in traffic
  • Ex-cop in Oscar Grant shooting death to be released
  • Violent protests erupt in Oakland over Grant verdict
  • Protesters gather in Oakland over ex-cop's release

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A 1-year-old boy who was shot in the head during the filming of a rap music video in Oakland was taken off life support Friday.

Hiram Lawrence, who would have turned 2 on Dec. 28, was pronounced dead at 3:05 p.m., the Rev. Roosevelt Taylor said.

The boy’s family had held out hope that he would show some brain activity, but doctors at Children’s Hospital Oakland concluded after multiple tests that he was brain dead from the injuries he suffered in the shooting last month.

Outside the hospital, the boy’s mother, Brittany Houston called for an end to the city’s violence.

“The shootings need to end. I shouldn’t have to lose my baby to a gunshot,” Houston said Friday while surrounded by Hiram’s father, family and clergy members.

Houston showed off a tiny ink footprint of her son on her right forearm as a tribute.

“This is how I’m going to have to remember my baby because somebody wanted to start shooting,” Houston said. “I’ve got to be strong for my baby. He fought for 11 days.”

The family’s attorney, Ivan Golde, said they decided not to oppose the doctors in ending life support after bringing in a private pediatrician who agreed with the findings. Dozens of relatives and family friends flooded the hospital Friday to say their goodbyes and support Hiram’s parents as doctors conducted one final test, which was consistent with the others.

Hiram was being held by his father, also named Hiram Lawrence, when gunfire erupted as about 20 people gathered outside a west Oakland liquor store Nov. 28, police said. Six other people were wounded, including Hiram’s father, who was shot in the hand.

“He doesn’t deserve this,” the father said in his last public comments Wednesday. “I was running around with the wrong people. It’s not my fault. It’s not my son’s fault.”

Police detained at least five possible suspects on unrelated charges but no arrests have been made.

Investigators have said the shooting occurred after one group of people fired on another group, and the second group fired back. A surveillance camera at State Market Liquors captured parts of the shooting, including three people wearing hooded sweatshirts firing from around the corner from the store.

Witnesses initially said Oakland rapper Kafani was the one making a video when the shooting occurred. But Kafani has said that while his promotional van was in the vicinity, he was not there.

Police said shortly after the shooting that investigators didn’t think Kafani had any significance in the case.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

  • robert-griffin-III.jpg
    Next Story:

    Heisman winner Robert Griffin III sacks black quarterback stereotypes

  • jose-reyes.jpg
    Previous Story:

    Dread man walking: Marlins will make Jose Reyes cut his hair

Filed in: News, Top Stories | Related Topics: Hip Hop, Music Video, Oakland, Shooting
  • Learn about our User Panel

    Read More
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • Meagan Good stars in ‘Anchorman 2′ Meagan Good stars in ‘Anchorman 2′
    • Where affirmative action will survive Where affirmative action will survive
    • Rand Paul makes a play for black voters Rand Paul makes a play for black voters
    • Chef describes Michael Jackson children’s lives to jury Chef describes Michael Jackson children’s lives to jury
    • Lil Wayne addresses US flag flap
    • Tracee Ellis Ross launches ‘Hair Love’ campaign
    • Bumps in Booker’s path to US Senate
    • Bill would honor Buffalo Soldiers’ role in parks
  • What Your Friends Are Reading

  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • President George W. Bush (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama arrive in the East Room for the unveiling of Bush's offical portrait at the White House May 31, 2012 in Washington, DC. Commissioned by the White House Historical Association, the portraits will hang in the White House next to portraits of the other past presidents. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

    Obama rejects Bush comparisons

  • White House threatens veto of bill with food stamps cuts

  • Polls: Obama ratings start to slip

  • Obama on Father's Day reflects on his absent dad

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • Jay-Z (YouTube)

    Jay-Z announces new album

  • Dunkin' Donuts: Workers who endured racist rant will be 'honored'

  • Greene Scholars seeks to place black youth in STEM jobs

  • 29-year-old hedge fund boss preying on African-Americans arrested

» Read More in Business

Living

  • Serena Williams

    Serena Williams works teeny bikini on Miami Beach

  • Daughter inspires mom's natural hair care company

  • ‘From Fatherless to Fatherhood’

  • My father called: Gays, marriage and the evolving black perspective

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • Ethel “Ellie” Hylton

    Woman graduates with highest GPA at Harvard

  • Adele honored by Queen Elizabeth II

  • Man finds father through Facebook

  • South Africa's interracial couples

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • Bill Cosby and his late son, Ennis Cosby (Facebook)

    Cosby pays tribute to his late son

  • Beyoncé, video game company settle lawsuit

  • New film explores 'How to Make Money Selling Drugs’

  • 'Sesame Street' on parents in prison

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • A photo of Emmett Till is included on the plaque that marks his gravesite at Burr Oak Cemetery May 4, 2005 in Aslip, Illinois.  (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    Trayvon Martin case haunted by Emmett Till

  • Woman sentenced to death at 16 is freed

  • Chad Johnson released from jail after butt-slap

  • Supreme Court to hear NJ housing discrimination case

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Living
  • Video
  • Inspire
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2013 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP