“His work can never stop”; Norfolk activist reflects on one year since son’s murder

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — On June 29, 2023, Ali K. Muhammad, 33, was shot and killed outside his home in Norfolk.

“Today marks the one-year anniversary of my son’s death, and it has been hard, but God has heard me,” said Cynthia Muhammad, Ali’s mother.

Bilal Muhammad, Ali’s father, is the founder of Stop The Violence Team, a 37-year-old anti-gun violence group.

“The last words were, ‘Please take this gun out of my face,’” Bilal said. “Those were his last words, and I will never forget that.”

Bilal was on the phone with Ali and heard him being shot.

“A gunshot hit him in the chest and our son was lying there, right next to his vehicle,” Bilal said.

Bilal said Ali left his home at night and headed to work. He believes his son’s murder was planned.

“Sometimes I feel bad because if I had enough time, let me talk to this person, you know, it wasn’t enough time,” Bilal said. “I would have said, ‘Why would you want to hurt another human being? No matter what, no matter how angry you are toward my son, is it worth it? Is it worth it? Is it worth taking another innocent person’s life?’”

Ali leaves behind his mother, father, five siblings and three daughters.

“Remarkable father. And he, he was so present in their lives, constantly, daily,” Bilal said. “He gave them everything, it’s so much love.”

Ali’s death came a day after Bilal’s brother, Ruben Hargraves, was shot dead in Portsmouth 41 years previously.

“Our brother was 32 years old,” Bilal said.

The trauma of both incidents has led the family to want the community to end the violence.

“We don’t let our intelligence think for us,” Bilal said. “We let our emotional personality take over our thoughts and our way of thinking. And we don’t consider that this human being is like me. “If I shoot him, it’s like I’m shooting myself. »

Bilal’s family celebrated Ali’s life with a meal at a restaurant.

“The spirit is truly high – we know it’s been a year, but let’s come together in a collective effort to embrace and love each other more and to think more of our son, of the good times, of the good days,” he said.

Bilal said his son had played a central role in combating gun violence and the family would continue that mission.

“His work, his efforts that he has always made within the committee, must continue through his daughters, through us. And his work can never stop,” Bilal said.

Jalen Garces has been charged with second-degree murder in Ali’s death. His jury trial is scheduled for October 22, 2024.