Father of murdered teen turns tragedy into crusade for peace


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SALT LAKE CITY — Norvert Winston struggled when his 16-year-old son, Kenyatta, was gunned down and his body dumped in a vacant lot.

"There are no winners in this. I've lost something that I'll never get back," he said Tuesday.

Now, Winston and his wife, Valarie Winston, who have two younger sons, have become advocates to try to prevent the kind of violence that took their son's life.

"The purpose for my son was to create a mindset for us all. Be mindful. Make good choices. The solution to the problem, I don't know. But I know it has to start with our youth. We need to teach our young people different ways of dealing with society's ailments. I believe we have to start with the children," Norvert Winston said.

On Friday, a jury found Frank Paul Reyos guilty of aggravated murder in Kenyatta's death. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 12.

The Winstons were guest speakers Tuesday in front of the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building for the YWCA's annual Week Without Violence event and the planting of daffodil seeds, a program started a decade ago by the Gun Violence Prevention Center.

By the spring, the seeds will break through the hard soil, and a daffodil — a symbol of hope — will rise, according to event organizers.

Before planting the seeds, Police Chief Chris Burbank cited a statistic that about 400 people lose their lives to violence each day in the United States.


The purpose for my son was to create a mindset for us all. Be mindful. Make good choices. The solution to the problem, I don't know. But I know it has to start with our youth. We need to teach our young people different ways of dealing with society's ailments. I believe we have to start with the children.

–Norvert Winston


"It is one of the most startling statistics as a police representative, (pause) it's difficult to even comprehend. Why do we in society view that as acceptable? There is no acceptable loss in a free society. Why are we not outraged that one individual will lose their life today to violence?

"It does not matter what side of the issue you're on, what your politics are, what your religious beliefs are. You cannot argue that individuals who intend to do others harm have access to firearms and do just that every single day in this country and in this city," the chief said. "It is unacceptable to report crime is down a certain percentage — we had fewer homicides this year than we did last year — when you're sitting across from a family member and say, 'But your loved one lost their life.'"

Burbank said he applauds people like the Winstons who could have simply become recluses from society, but instead have chosen not to let the violence they have been subjected to define them. Rather, they are trying to do something about it.

Norvert Winston said he was honored to be part of the Week Without Violence and daffodil planting.

"It's really good to be here today. To be in a community where individuals still care about life," he said. "A week without violence. That's where it starts. And a week can turn into a month. A month can turn into six months, and into years. It's touching my heart. I'm feeling some feelings now. But it's really good to be here." Email: preavy@deseretnews.com Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam

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