The mother of 15-year-old Phillip Fletcher, who was tragically killed by a stray bullet while walking to a high school football game in Huntsville, Alabama, is now making an emotional plea to end gun violence. Glenda Wesley, the grieving mother, is urging the public to “put the guns down and talk” as her son’s alleged killer, a teenager himself, has been arrested.
“I never thought it would be me. But I don’t know what I could say,” Wesley expressed, her voice filled with anguish. “Put the guns down and just talk with each other. It shouldn’t get to the point where you have to bury a child.”
Phillip Fletcher was shot and killed in an incident that has left his family and the local community in shock. Wesley is now calling for stronger measures to prevent guns from getting into the hands of teenagers. “You shouldn’t have to bury anybody due to guns. It should be something against that where a 16-year-old should have a gun. They’re just too easy for them to get,” she added.
Authorities have arrested 16-year-old Torres McCray, who is now charged with capital murder in connection with Fletcher’s death. McCray is being held in the Madison County Jail without bond. Police are still investigating how the teen obtained the firearm, especially given Alabama’s current permitless carry law, which allows individuals 19 and older to carry a handgun without a permit or background check. Wesley is hoping for changes that would make it harder for minors to access guns.
In a heart-wrenching interview with WAFF48, Wesley recounted the devastating moment when she received a phone call from her son’s friends. She initially expected to hear her son’s voice but was instead told to rush to the hospital. For three agonizing hours, she waited for news, clinging to hope as her son’s name was not on the ‘DOA’ list.
“They took me to a room, and they told me he wasn’t here anymore,” Wesley said, her eyes filled with tears. Reflecting on the senseless tragedy, she added that her son was simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Now, Glenda Wesley hopes her heartbreaking loss will serve as a call to action, urging the community to find ways to prevent future tragedies by promoting dialogue and controlling gun access among teenagers.