Chantel Lamay "Shy-Shy" Matiyosus, a 16-year-old female of Lithuanian and Cape Verdean heritage, tragically lost her life on April 25, 2009, in Brockton, Massachusetts. The vibrant teenager, who was a student at Brockton High School and the former captain of the West Junior High School cheerleading squad, was gunned down in a senseless act of violence. On that fateful Saturday, Chantel was leaving a baby shower when she was shot twice.
Her unexpected death sent shockwaves through her community, leaving her family and a world of friends to grapple with the sudden loss of a young life full of promise.
In the aftermath of the shooting, an investigation led to the arrest of a suspect. Darryene Ware was subsequently charged with the murder of Chantel. The legal proceedings that followed brought a conviction against Ware for her killing. However, in a turn of events that brought further pain to Chantel's family, the murder conviction was later vacated. The decision was reportedly due to false testimony from a state trooper. Consequently, the charge against Ware was reduced to manslaughter.
The anguish for Chantel's family did not end with the legal battles. In the years following her death, her final resting place in a Brockton cemetery has been subjected to repeated acts of vandalism. On the 14th anniversary of her death in April 2023, her family discovered her headstone covered in pink paint. This was not an isolated incident; her grave has been desecrated with other vile acts over the years. These relentless disturbances have compounded the family's grief, prompting them to start a fundraiser to have Chantel's remains cremated so she can finally rest in peace. The man initially convicted in her shooting was reportedly awaiting a new trial as of April 2023.
