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Detroit couple seeking justice after second son is killed at party on Christmas Eve

Posted at 6:00 PM, Jan 08, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-08 20:23:27-05

DETROIT (WXYZ) — "My son is supposed to be burying me, not me burying him." Those were the words of Terrence Ricks Sr. in June 2017 when his son, 25-year-old Terrence Ricks Jr. was killed when a woman he briefly dated, ran him over with her car.

The murder of Terrence Jr. devastated his parents and three brothers, including Antonio Harris who was 19 when his older brother was killed.

"He always talked about his brother and how much he missed him," Rachel Ricks said. They all missed Terrence whose obsessed killer Danisha Mathis pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison.

A couple of weeks ago, on Christmas Eve, Antonio was with friends and acquaintances at a party on Wildemere near Puritan on Detroit's west side when he was shot multiple times on the second floor of the house.

Someone called the family to say Antonio had been hurt. His parents rushed to the house where they were told the party had taken place. But on the way, Mrs. Ricks began seeing "Rest in peace" posts to her son on Facebook.

The couple had lost another son.

"This is so unreal. I can't believe this," said Antonio's father. "He didn't have the chance to have children."

"To go through this again, it's bad," his mom said. "He was my youngest son."

The family and police are hoping someone can help identify Antonio's killer to help put the person responsible behind bars.

"Please come forward and say something," Terrence Sr. said.

"This is the hardest thing," said Rachel. "I wouldn't want no one to go through this."

Antonio has not had a funeral yet. His body remains at the James H. Cole Funeral Home as Terrence and Rachel Ricks try to raise enough money through a GoFundMe to bury him.

Money can also be donated through Cash App to $FastTee1.

"We just want to give him a decent burial," said Terrence Sr. "And if anyone in that house knows something please speak up. Please come forward and speak up."