November 14, 2008 1:07 pm

Tykwan Hunt’s Mother Wants Funeral $ Compensation

So let’s see, Tykwan Hunt was stabbed and murdered. The alleged murder is Amos Brown Jr. who is currently in jail awaiting trial. There’s a civil suit by the Hunt family against the Brown family that was won by default, but the dollar compensation hasn’t yet been determined. The Hunt family, that is Jaime Hunt-Howard, the mother of Tykwan, earlier filed a request with the Office of Victim Services, for compensation towards a funeral, that was denied.

We pick up now the Hour report:

Hunt-Howard has asked for $1,800, a little less than the amount of out-of-pocket expenses she paid for her son’s funeral, her attorney Michael Colombo said.

According to Colombo, Hunt-Howard had filed an online application for the amount and was denied by OVS. In a written explanation sent to his client, the agency claimed that Hunt provoked his own death.

The OVS claims it is prohibited by law from compensating the families of victims who contributed to their own injuries or deaths, Colombo said.

Mark Sherman, who also represents Hunt-Howard in the matter, said the denial was unfair and the result of prejudice toward the African-American family.

“Had he not been an underprivileged citizen we do not feel the case would have been decided the way it was,” Sherman said. “The big problem with this proceeding is that it puts Tykwan Hunt on trial when he is the victim of a murder. You have a kid with no criminal record and who is a victim, and we are forced to defend him.”

The web site of the office of victim services states amongst many items:

Eligibility Requirements

The victim’s behavior must not have contributed to the criminal incident.

Other sources of payment do not cover all eligible costs.

The Hour continues:

According to an affidavit, Hunt’s stiff, lifeless body was found behind a McDonald’s at 340 Main Ave. at 3 a.m., nine hours after he died. The killing was the result of a fight that had erupted at a house party on Linden Street. Two other teens were stabbed during the incident.

One teen told police that Hunt had stabbed him shortly before he was killed, and Brown said Hunt had pulled a gun on him when he confronted Hunt about the stabbing behind a Sunoco gas station. Personnel at the state medical examiner’s office found a gun in Hunt’s waistband as they were preparing his body for an autopsy.

You make the call.

source: The Hour, Slain Norwalk teen’s mother seeking compensation, By AMANDA NORRIS, November 14, 2008

nwlknative

Doesn’t look like the eligibility requirements have been met in this case. While I sympathize with the mother losing her son at such a young age, she has to face the reality that he probably was a victim of his own actions.
Anonymous

Another womb to the tomb story…………
How about using some of his drug money to pay for his funeral, NOT the funds for REAL victims!
Spare us this “oh poor us” crap, at least we don’t have to worry about him killing some innocent hardworking citizen.
Anonymous

If McDonalds was a crime scene why wasn’t the site secured and checked?You would think taking a stabbing victim from the lot to the hospital made it a crime scene.So why did the kid lay there for hours.

I agree with #1 sympathy goes out to the family yet there was a lot of questions never addressed.
anonymous

Here we go again.
Anonymous

Your right #4 we could talk about the set of armed robberies last night in the city but it just wouldn’t be the same.
Old Timer

Having to bury her child had to be a terrible experience. If she qualifies for funeral expenses. then why shouldn’t she apply ? If the eligibility standards are ruling her out because the her son may have contributed to his own murder, then that is something for her attorney to pursue. It’s not as if she will be getting rich, if they do pay off.
anon

hey OT, she doesn’t qualify for funeral expenses, she applied anyway and was turned down. There’s nothing for her attorney to pursue.

keep moving along, nothing to see here…
Anon432

It is sad anyway you look at it. Why not have a collection of all the people who attended the party on Linden Street? They are all in on it. I have a family member who was shot in Bridgeport several years ago when he was robbed of $6.00 and a RC car. The robber was a 14 year old kid. No one paid his surgery bills when the bullets ripped through his leg, back, lung, and stomach. Mr. Hunt was carrying a gun. If you are carrying one you will be accused of the possibility of using it. Violence should not be rewarded. It is just not what anyone wants for our youth.
anonymous

“The victim’s behavior must not have contributed to the criminal incident.”. So the attorney’s claim is that by stabbing someone and threatening someone with a gun that was found on his body isn’t contributing to the criminal offense?
Anonymous

If she had raised her son right in the first place, he would have chosen better acquaintances and would still be alive and this entire subject would be moot.
Anonymous

Maybe is she didn’t support the gang life lead by her son. Maybe if she didn’t get on her dead son’s myspace account and use it to tell the kids to come to the funeral in gang colors. Maybe is she wasn’t part of the problem I could feel bad for her but I don’t. She should take part of the blame for her child’s death rather than looking for others to pay.
Pluto

Go for it #11.
yoyoyo

unfortunate…gang=violence..typical.
Anon432

# 11 is right. When is it going to be realized that gang behavior is linked to poor parenting. When a kid has a parent who cares and keeps their children away from gangs and does not glorify the “gangster” life they do better in life. There are many parents who are part of the problem. They do not believe the teachers, counselors, police when they hear of the problems that their children are causing or living through. It is easier to make excuses for their behavior than it is to stand up and put your foot down and say it is unacceptable.
Old Timer

We don’t know the woman, or her story. If she needs help with burial expenses, I would find it hard to turn her down. There, but for the grace of God, could be almost any parent. Good parenting skills, or not, she deserves some sympathy.
Anonymous

“She deserves some sympathy”???

What world are YOU living in? She promoted her son’s gangsta life, she “deserves” no sympathy from anyone. You play the game, sooner or later you have to pay the price.

Yeah, I’ll give her some sympathy. It’s too bad her son died, but if he wasn’t living a thug life in the first place he’d still be alive. I’m sympathetic that she was proud of his lifestyle and didn’t bother to dissuade him from it. Golly, play with fire and you get burned! Who would have though? You don’t “deserve” sympathy for being deliberately obtuse.
anonymous

Not sure she even had out of pocket expenses. I thought just about everything was donated except for the pallbearers costumes. Heard it looked like Halloween with all the new red hoodies and black pants with red beads around their neck. Maybe that is what the $1800 was for.
sono resident

Some people seem to have the misguided belief that Hunt’s mother is going to somehow benefit from this and that would be a bad message to others. The anger I understand, the logic and lack of empathy though is appalling. No one is going to get into gang activity because they know their funeral will be paid for with government funds. She may have been a terrible mother and if so, she’s suffered the consequences, causing her financial distress on top of her son’s death is not going to serve any social purpose and only shows a callousness amongst the many.
anonymous

Will she give the $1800 to the boy her son stabbed?
Anonymous

#18: Many people suffer financial distress because of funeral costs. I hope you would want to pay their costs, too.
anonymous

I wasn’t at the funeral but I did hear that he was dressed in his gang colors, as was his mother. I’d say that she was fairly supportive then of his gang activities.
As for him contributing to his own demise, or in their words, the criminal incident, I would say being at a party with weapons is enough to indicate contribution to the incident. Had he not been at the party with weapons, he would not have been killed. Those facts don’t even get into the he-said, she said of who struck who first. He is still ineligible to receive any benefits.

Gang violence doesn’t pay and it never should. That is the message and needs to remain the message. It was tragic, as are all deaths of young people. The violence needs to stop. They need to learn to respect themselves and others, not learn to manipulate systems.
Anony

What I find amusing is how these little punks try to act like they are a real hard gang. I grew up in an area where gangs were the real deal, and these wannabes would be prison bitches in a real city. They tried to do a gang funeral when they have no idea what it is really like. No one is really afraid of their little club.
Anonymous

#21: As a Norwalk educator, I have known many great parents of all socio-economic groups, but I have also known a few parents (fortunately, very few) who are unfit to be parents. Among these are those parents who know their children are involved in gang activity and who actually approve of it. Some of them were gang members during their own teenage years.

If, as you say, this mother supported his gang activities, I have no sympathy for her at all. No, I am not sorry that someone has died, but she doesn’t deserve anyone’s pity, and she surely doesn’t deserve compensation from any source.
Anon432

#23 you are right on.
lifelong teacher

Hmm. Hunt was carrying a gun to a neighborhood party…. He stabbed someone shortly before he was killed…. Medical personnel found the gun still in his waistband….. Mom had him dressed in gang colors and urged all of the pallbearers and funeral attendees to dress likewise….. He was not an innocent victim of a crime. There should be no compensation paid here.
Anonymous

Mrs. Hunt is part of the problem.
#11 here.

Old Timer – She lives the same gang lifestyle her son died in. She deserves some blame for his death. She showed no remorse for the gang life after his death rather she flaunted it. That does not deserve your sympathy.

#18 – you wrote “causing her financial distress on top of her son�s death is not going to serve any social purpose and only shows a callousness amongst the many.” What about the financial distress she, her son and the rest of the gangs put on this city? They all cost us money needed for extra police! They cost more money each year in schools. I am a middle school teacher. I watch all the money spent on gang prevention in middle school. 12 year olds being recruited into gangs! No that $1800 should go to the schools or the police.
Anon432

#11 You are correct! Why was Ms. Hunt (was she married) not charged with child endangerment, or neglect for being a part of the gang? How about the financial distress these gang members put on their victims? How many of you know someone who has had their car or purse stolen, they are busy costing law abiding citizens financial distress, they deserve no sympathy and no financial support. -They are probably already on some kind of state assistance as it is they want to play all the system they can.
Townie

The newspaper article states that a gun was found in Hunt’s waist band by the state medical examiners office in Farmington. Shouldn’t this have been discovered by the police in Norwalk as part of their normal crime scene investigation? Maybe I’m missing something?
Pluto

Give it a rest, folks. She’s probably living off us hard-working taxpayers anyway.
Anonymous

Gang life = lost lives. This should be a wake up call to all parents who know or suspect their children are involved in this kind of activity. And even those who believe like most that their child would never get involved, Wake up before its too late. Seek help now or there won’t be a second chance. We have seen many groups reaching out to parents and kids but they don’t seem to care until its too late. When there is a terrible tragedy such as this they all come out and show their dismay, anger and concern but soon forget there are still problems that exist. They go back to their regular lives until the next time and I’m afraid there will be a next time and all of these people will be clamouring for answers and quick solutions. Why not seek out the groups willing to help now instead of waiting for the next time? Joining a group with your kid now will hopefully prevent sorrow later. Becoming informed won’t hurt a bit and perhaps you could help prevent another lost life or another kid getting involved in activities that can ruin their lives.
Anon432

#30 Gang life= lost lives. I agree with that, however, in this case there were plenty of people speaking up about Tykwan’s gang affiliations. The problem here was the mother. She promoted this way of life and ignored better judgement in parenting her son to stay away from the gang. Why not promote the boy scouts, Key club, organized sports? Instead, it was the Gangster life. I bet Lifelong Teacher has seen plenty of Tykwan’s and Ms. Hunts in teaching. The school tries to reach the home and gets a busy signal or a recording saying the number was disconnected. The “projects” have to be cleaned up and swept free of the gangs first. Education comes from the parents for the first 5 years, if they are thuggin’ that is what the child is brought up on.
Joanne

#31-however, if this is the case “The school tries to reach the home and gets a busy signal or a recording saying the number was disconnected” then we as a community need to step in. This lifestyle affects us all and it affects the future of our community. Why not promote organizations that can intervene or give some direction? Most people don’t choose to live in the “projects” most times it is because of circumstances and the fact that in these times, the projects are a way to live within their means. Don’t think for one moment that alot of the parents who live there wouldn’t jump at the chance to move their families to better neighborhoods but just can’t afford them. Look at those who are now out of jobs (and they aren’t just people who live in the projects, they are executives whos companies have downsized or worse gone out of business)or are working 2 and 3 jobs to put a roof over their families heads. They just aren’t there all the time to monitor their kids behavior. Babysitters are out of the question because of the cost ($10 per hr.? nowadays, thats what many make at their jobs) and they have to depend on the older children to be the caregivers while they work. Getting involved in community groups and activities can help to steer these kids in the right direction before its too late. Many of the kids that become involved in gang activity do so because of the above circumstances because they are alone and they are looking for attention. We as a community can give them a new direction. All we need to do is reach out to them and show them that there are people out here that truly care about them. times are only getting worse with the economy such as it is and more and more parents will be struggling to even feed and clothe their kids and still have to worry what is going on while they are out trying to make a living. There are so many jobless now (national rate is 6.5%) that more and more kids will fall victim to non parental supervision because the parents have to do what they can to support them. Parents also need to become involved in community organizations so they are educated on the dangers of latch key kids and become aware of programs that can help them teach their kids the dangers of gang related activities.
Joanne

#31-however, if this is the case “The school tries to reach the home and gets a busy signal or a recording saying the number was disconnected” then we as a community need to step in. This lifestyle affects us all and it affects the future of our community. Why not promote organizations that can intervene or give some direction? Most people don’t choose to live in the “projects” most times it is because of circumstances and the fact that in these times, the projects are a way to live within their means. Don’t think for one moment that alot of the parents who live there wouldn’t jump at the chance to move their families to better neighborhoods but just can’t afford them. Look at those who are now out of jobs (and they aren’t just people who live in the projects, they are executives whos companies have downsized or worse gone out of business)or are working 2 and 3 jobs to put a roof over their families heads. They just aren’t there all the time to monitor their kids behavior. Babysitters are out of the question because of the cost ($10 per hr.? nowadays, thats what many make at their jobs) and they have to depend on the older children to be the caregivers while they work. Getting involved in community groups and activities can help to steer these kids in the right direction before its too late. Many of the kids that become involved in gang activity do so because of the above circumstances because they are alone and they are looking for attention. We as a community can give them a new direction. All we need to do is reach out to them and show them that there are people out here that truly care about them. times are only getting worse with the economy such as it is and more and more parents will be struggling to even feed and clothe their kids and still have to worry what is going on while they are out trying to make a living. There are so many jobless now (national rate is 6.5%) that more and more kids will fall victim to non parental supervision because the parents have to do what they can to support them. Parents also need to become involved in community organizations so they are educated on the dangers of latch key kids and become aware of programs that can help them teach their kids the dangers of gang related activities.
Anonymous

I am sick of hearing that “we as a community NEED to do this or that”.

What ever happened to THE FAMILY stepping in and helping out? Grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins?

Expecting “the community” to do it all is what got us to this point in the first place. When families took care of their own, there was a lot less thuggin’ and delinquency. Once families gave up care to “the community” that’s when the BAD examples became able to work their way into the kids’ lives.
Anonymous

Townie-

Unless I am mistaken – when you have a body (someone clearly dead) the police investigate (check pockets, look for cause of death, weapons, etc) however I don’t believe they go further then that the top layer – sort of speak. The gun was found in his underwear. I don’t beleive the police search that deep. If her where alive, he would have been frisked and the gun would/should have been found then. That is why it gets found at the Medical examiners office (who works either with or for the police).
Joanne

I’m a parent, grandparent and an aunt and have no problem stepping in when my community needs a little help. I agree with the “Family” unit but sometimes circumstances just don’t allow for this intervention either. Wasn’t it Hillary Clinton who said it takes a village? (obviously not a political statement on my part) And, I agree that parenting belongs to the parents, but we don’t always get what we want. I believe that no matter how good a parent is or how hard we try to steer kids in the right direction its not always as we wish. So if we can help these parents a little bit, Why not? We can’t look back at what was, but we can look forward to what can be.
Lester

You know……something’s going on here. I know a LONG time ago, like years ago, if any of us got into trouble, we wouldn’t have lived because our parents would’ve killed us. Not really, but you know what I mean. And did we dare tell anyone then that our parents beat us senseless, until sense came to us, because acting stupid shamed the family. Then everyone would look and go “ooooooooh, look at them……ooooooooooh, thank God that’s not us, oooooohhhhhhhhh…..” Trembling as they said that, giving us the weird eye look.

Anyway, you want to know my take on all of this? Take these kids and send them out to the midwest. Take them away from their cell phones, i-pods, video games, Wii games, all this. It’s funny how they could afford all this but, yet, can’t afford to bring lunch to school, because…”they’re poor”. Yet, these are the same thugs who wear their pants below their asses and have a belt buckle right around their hip joints and what do you see? Their stupid boxer shorts. What the hell is THAT????? IS that normal? Give me a break. But send them to the midwest, without all the frills. When they get there, take those dumb clothes away and give them regular cloths and have them work on the big farms. Yes, you may say that this is slavery. It’s not. Who’s doing this work now? People who need a job. Boredom breeds bad behavior. You get young people working their asses off, they beg to go home to be in school during the day instead of at night after they do a haard day’s work. There won’t be any time for fooling around. They won’t look so attractive. They’ll be too tired to get bored. They won’t have contact with their parents for a year unless it’s an emergency. If they improve, they could go home. If they continue their defiant behavior, they’ll stay. Their pay – direct deposit so it could pay for college once they finish high school out in the midwest, while they’re wearing normal citizen clothes instead of “gangsta” clothes. The parents, while they’re alone, will have to go to parenting classes and group therapy.

Sounds like a Dr. Phil episode? I wish he would do something like this. We’re going to be in trouble if we’re adults now. The younger generation’s going to be taking care of us when we’re in the nursing hime. Do you want someone in “gangsta” clothes who’s illiterate taking care of you? Who might beat the shit out of you because you aren’t responding to them at the right time, or worse, they’ll shoot you because they felt like it?

Well, let’s see if (a) this stays on this blog site, and (b) the type of response this gets.

Have a good night. And this is the land of the free. We should all become like Bernard Goetz – the subway vigilante – and have that right to defend ourselves. Then crime would drop.

Thanks for listening!
Anon432

Joanne there is no doubt that you do your job as a parent, grand parent and citizen of Norwalk. And I understand completely the economy and how hard some people work to better their lives and the lives of their family. However warped Lester is in his comments he has one thing right. Back in the day even the poorest parent in the projects had pride in their family and EXPECTED good behavior. On the street in school at church and in the home kids were held accountable. What has changed? Entitlements, lawsuits and question authority. There are plenty of people who leave the projects for a productive life and don’t turn to gangs for their protection, they try to play by the rules. Why should a gang member be allowed to ive in public housing? Drug dealers are not allowed there and housing units are lost when they are busted. I believe there are good people there who go to bed and pray that someday they will be out of there. There are plenty of so called projects throughout the country that work and don’t have the violence, they have been turned into co-ops where the tenant HAS TO keep his/her apartment drug free and clean as they strive to own the apartment by working in the building to help others. What we have now is not working. Hand out and help all you want but in reality there is an element that will suck you dry. That element should be targeted for removal.
Joanne

All I can say is WOW! #37 You have a way with words and I am sure most of us have hit upon the very same thoughts ourselves. Oh come folks don’t deny it. How many times have you thought, wouldn’t it be great if there was a scared straight program or boot camp we could send some of these kids to? #37 just has the guts to write it on a blog. I don’t agree with the Bernard Goetz theory but I do agree with taking away the bling and letting kids see how the real way life works. That is why I also believe that we as a community should be willing to get involved. Boy am I going to get flack for this but sometimes the school of hard knocks serves as a wake up call for those who think life is a game.
Joanne

#38- for years I have been saying that the projects should be turned into co-ops and offered at a reasonable rate to those who choose to buy and with a selling cap. This would be the first step to getting rid of the dealers etc. People who are able to own where they live will make sure nothing comes between them and their homes.
Old Timer

I agree, having the projects occupied only by people who had an ownership stake would be a big improvement. I wonder where the people would go who could not do that. I said before, I don’t know Ms Hunt, but I know it is a terible thing to bury a child. If she supported the gang lifestyle, and/or particpated in it, then she should have to live with the consequences. If she was not a supportive part of that lifestyle, then, a lttle help with the burial expense is not unreasonable. An outright gift would not be a good idea, help with the outstanding bills for the burial might be. Is she a project resident ? Is she part of the gang lifestyle ?
anon

She used to live in Norwalk and has family here, her kids went to Norwalk schools and played sports on Norwalk teams but she moved to Bridgeport about 1 yr before the murder. That is what I read in the newspapers and they said he was attending Bridgeport schools.
Lester

Ok….now I know there’s something strange here! I keep posting something on this blog site and it keeps disappearing. Does anyone know why?

Turrfgrl?
Lester

You know, I’m going to try this again because what I said I think, is valid, but I’ll keep it short. Get rid of their “gangsta’ clothes and send them to a farm out in the midwest, and you’ll have less crime, because thry’ll be troo tired to get INTO any crime!
Prunella

I don’t think that Lester’s warped at all. We ALL think the way he does. Come on, let’s admit it. Don’t we all hate those clothes? I think they’re a disgrace.

Lester – you did good!
Anonymous

Who names their kid “Tykwan” anyway? What kind of a name is that? What’s his middle name – Dough???
Educator

You can’t imagine the names we hear in schools all over Norwalk, #46. Latoya, Laquanda, Latisha, yes, even Tawana, LaWanda, Tyreece, Tayvohn, Lavon, etc. It goes on and on. I know that they don’t get these names because of some African descendants because I know Africans who are here and they have very different names. You want to know what they are? Brace yourself: Joe, Martha, Nadia (yes, Nadia) James. Normal names. Give me strength. When I went to school, 40 years ago, we all had normal names. Everyone. I think we’re getting back to it. We could only hope.
Anonymous

What is your point, Educator? Those are not names you or I chose for our children, but so what? There is nothing indecent or inappropriate about them, so if you are judging people by the names they choose, you have a problem.
Educator

I was answering #46′s blog, OK? Don’t get so defensive, is that OK with you, and even if it wasn’t, well too bad. And I don’t have any problem, so there, thank you very much! And that IS my point, OK?!?!
Prunella

You know, you don’t hear white people or hispanic people naming their kids LaToya or Daquan. Well, only in America, because even in Africa, they don’t have these names! I’m behind you, Educator.