Community Mourns at Funeral for 12-Year-Old Cookie Thomas
Last Edited: Friday, 07 Sep 2007, 11:38 PM EDT
Created: Friday, 07 Sep 2007, 3:27 PM EDT
CLEVELAND -- Several children were among the mourners who overflowed a church Friday for the funeral service for a 12-year-old girl who was killed by a stray bullet from a street
gunfight.
The community response to the slaying of Asteve'e "Cookie" Thomas last Saturday while she walked near her home has provided strength and comfort to her family, said Rev. C. Jay Matthews, senior pastor of Mount Sinai Baptist Church, where the funeral was held.
The church was filled more than an hour before the service began.
The shooting prompted a rally in the girl's Slavic Village neighborhood and community leaders announced a series of anti-crime initiatives Thursday evening, including plans for a gun buyback program.
A man wounded in the gunfight has been arrested in the girl's slaying and a warrant has been issued for a second suspect, who remained at large Friday. The FBI has offered a $5,000 reward for help catching Eric Romel Wilson, 35.
Wilson was released from police custody 16 months ago even though he was wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department.
Police let him go because the outstanding warrant for Wilson was removed from the computer system that tracks fugitives, a discrepancy that the Sheriff's Department is investigating, Chief Deputy Doug Burkhart said.
Police said Wilson was shooting at James Yhonquea, 20, of Cleveland, who was wounded in the gunfight. Yhonquea was charged Tuesday with aggravated murder.
