Maurice R. Purnell, aged 28, was fatally shot on June 24, 2017, in Chicago, Illinois. His death occurred on the city’s West Side, just a short distance from his home. This tragic incident highlights the ongoing gun violence that plagued Chicago during that year, with shootings being a persistent issue across many of its neighborhoods.
Maurice's death has had a profound impact on his family, particularly his mother, Bertha Purnell, who has since become a vocal advocate for victims' rights and gun control. Bertha Purnell, who retired from her nursing job after her son's death, created her own nonprofit and joined Moms Demand Action, a gun policy advocacy group, to help prevent similar tragedies from affecting other families. She has spoken publicly about her journey, advocating for tighter regulations on gun ownership, emphasizing the need for ensuring that only responsible individuals can access firearms.
On a cloudy morning in December, nearly six years after Maurice’s murder, the person responsible for his death was sentenced to 20 years in prison. While Bertha expressed some relief that the perpetrator could no longer harm anyone else, she noted that finding peace in such a situation is often elusive, and justice can feel limited. The struggle for justice for many victims in Chicago continues, as more than 80% of shootings in the city since 2010 have failed to result in an arrest, reflecting the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing gun violence effectively.
