Basketball clinic to raise awareness about gun violence, memorialize slain Woodland Hills student
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The family of a Woodland Hills High School student who was found shot to death in November is hosting a basketball clinic this weekend to honor his memory and raise awareness about gun violence.
Micah Graham was 16 when he was killed Nov. 4 in Les Getz Memorial Park. He played basketball for Woodland Hills High School and is remembered by family as “crazy, funny and just full of life all the time,” Rena Halsel, his grandmother, said.
To honor Graham’s memory, Halsel is hosting a basketball clinic — which she’s calling Micah’s Dream — for children ages 12 through 17 at Lewis Playground in Hazelwood. The event is slated for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Participants can register and find more information on Halsel’s Facebook page.
Halsel will be joined by her husband John and Graham’s father, William Graham. She said she also expects several detectives who have been working to find Graham’s killer to attend the event.
In addition to basketball, the memorial event will include lunch, raffles and a free shirt for participants. There will be information about gun violence and suggestions for keeping safe.
Halsel said she hopes the event will remind people that her grandson is “gone, but he’s not forgotten.”
Graham used to play basketball on the court where the clinic will be held, she said.
“Basketball was the love of his life,” Halsel said. “His dream was to be an NBA star. He’s a star up in Heaven now. Let’s honor him and play the game he loved.”
Halsel said she’s hopeful that bringing Graham’s death to the forefront again may encourage someone to come forward with information about his murder. She has been calling for the public to help investigators since his death.
“Hopefully somebody will eventually say something,” she said. “The littlest thing that they could possibly know could be the biggest thing to help crack the case.”
Participants in Saturday’s event will receive information about gun violence and listen to a presentation on the topic. Even those who haven’t registered for the event can come to the park for information on gun violence.
“We want to make sure we don’t let Micah’s death go in vain,” Halsel said. “That day is Micah’s day. We’re going to honor Micah and raise awareness of what took his life.”