August 2 declared Rakim LaMont Russell Day in Salisbury

SALISBURY, Md. – Family and friends celebrated the first official Rakim LaMont Russell Day on Friday, celebrating the life of Russell, who was gunned down outside of a hotel in Salisbury four years ago.

“Rakim was just a big asset to our family, he was the baby boy but he was like the big boss man, so these last four years have been really rough for our family trying to make it without him,” Russell’s mom, Shanelle Taylor, said.

Russell was an innocent bystander, caught in the line of fire after a group of men apparently got into a fight at a nearby party.

“August second is, it’s like a day that you’ll never forget as far as what happened on that day in 2015,” Taylor said.

But this August second, after a proclamation from Mayor Jake Day, is now officially Rakim LaMont Russell Day in Salisbury.

“That really uplifted my spirits, to open that email and see that that day is going to be in honor of him,” Taylor said.

A day dedicated to focusing on the life and legacy Rakim leaves behind and the love he showed from the very beginning.

“Rakim was the sweetest, gentlest, always wanting to hug and to kiss little boy,” Karen Haggins, Russell’s grandmother, said.

“And for a child at such an early age to realize that love will cure the community, was a big deal to me and I always thought he was special,” Dr. Sharon Washington, his aunt, added.

And the day comes at a special time – just weeks after one of the alleged gunman in the shooting was set free after a retrial. But Rakim’s family says this is not the time to focus on that.

“Today we honor Rakim, because, although his life was wrongfully taken at such an early age, he meant the world to all of us,” Taylor said.

A day focused on leaving the past behind and moving forward.

“It’s been a rough road, but we’re still here, as long as we can keep his legacy alive, and do things in a positive way, we’ll make it through it,” Taylor said.