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It’s been nine months since Ms. Glentrese Burrell lost her teenage son Josh Towns to gun violence.

Towns was fatally shot as he was driving near the entrance of Pine Glenn Estates of the Selmont community around 11 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2024.

Burrell said the shooting took place after her son was spotted by another male teen, leaving the home of a female teen from Selma. 

“I’m just heartbroken,” said Burrell. “I never thought this would happen because Josh was a very good child. I mean, a good child. When he goes to school, he comes home and he’s a homebody. And he had a couple good friends. He was all around a sweet boy, and he was doing everything he needed to do, as far as becoming a young man.”

Burrell said Towns played sports ever since he was a child. Even though she is a resident of Perry County, she said she couldn’t keep her son there because he truly loved Selma. 

“He just loved to be there,” said Burrell. 

Just before her son’s tragic passing, he had just graduated a month prior from Southside High School with the mindset of going to Wallace State Community College in Selma to pursue a career in welding. 

“He had just graduated,” said Burrell. “I mean, he had just made it, and that’s what hurt me so bad. My baby struggled when he was young, getting up and going to school. He used to hate getting up going to school in the morning and he made it. I was so proud of him. Not only did he make it, he went right on to college. He didn’t hesitate nor did he waste any time trying to be a welder just like he told me.” 

Burrell said her son believed in the phrase “building America” and that he used to always say to her, “When you are a welder, you are building America.”

“And, like I said, he was a sweet child. You wouldn’t have to ask me how sweet or a nice of a person he was. You can ask anybody and they’ll tell you how nice of a person Josh was and I just can’t believe it, but it happened,” said Burrell. 

A day after Burrell son’s death, 18-year-old Mikell Craig of Selma was arrested Friday, July 19. Craig was held in jail without bond, pending an Aniah’s Law hearing. 

Burrell said she is grateful for Aniah’s Law and that her heart goes out to parents of Aniah and she said, “It has comforted me knowing that the person that did this to my son is not out.  He’s still in jail since day one. The police in Selma has done a good job so far and my faith is in the district attorney and most definitely in the judge.”

Burrell said that the hearing regarding her son’s death is Wednesday, April 23. She is praying that she is able to be strong for her son and be present. She also stated she wants justice for her son and that she just wants the right thing to take place.

“I just want the right thing to happen for the young man that did what he did to my son,” said Burrell. “I’ve never seen him before. I’m pretty sure he was someone that was on the football team with my son, which I used to feed them and everything. And, I just don’t know what it was and why, and what was in his head when he did this. I don’t know but I hope he know that he’s going to have to deal with what he did. And I just want the truth to come out, and I just want everything to go smoothly.”