My name is Zhalena Mathis, and two years ago today, my son Prince-Darrell “DJ” Carroll was shot and killed in Seattle. He was just 31 years old.
DJ was a father, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, and a dear friend to many. He loved basketball and excelled in track, even representing Washington in the Junior Olympics when he was a youth. DJ also struggled with mental illness, and on June 16, 2023, just hours after being discharged from a hospital, he was placed at a care facility in Seattle. The next morning, his life was stolen by gun violence.
Gun violence doesn’t just take lives—it takes away futures. It silences dreams and leaves families forever changed. DJ was working to reunite with his young daughter. Instead, his life and dreams were ended in an instant.
But today, I’m not just mourning my son. I’m fighting for him.
We know we need stronger laws—laws that protect us not only from those who pull the trigger but from the easy access to the guns fueling this violence, especially for our youth. Juvenile homicide and suicide rates are rising because guns are too easily available. This is not a partisan issue; it is a public safety and public health crisis.
We must also prioritize mental health support, ensuring those struggling with mental illness and trauma related to gun violence have access to care that they need. We need policies that recognize these issues before tragedy strikes, not after.
In memory of DJ, I’ve become a passionate advocate, organizing community vigils, meeting with lawmakers in Washington D.C., launching a website and non-profit by Fall of 2025 called DJ Cares, and authoring a book for pre-teens titled DJ Saves The Day, aimed at teaching children and families about gun violence prevention.
I’m determined to prevent another family from experiencing this unbearable loss. But I can’t do this alone.
That’s why I believe so deeply in the work of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. They are fighting for stronger gun safety laws, improved mental health resources, and community-based interventions proven to save lives.
I ask you to please honor the memory of my son, and all those who have been taken too early by gun violence, by supporting this life-saving work and making a donation today. I am counting on you to turn our sorrow into action, and our pain into progress.
Together, we can prevent more tragedies and end gun violence.
Thank you,
Zhalena Mathis
ALLIANCE FOR GUN RESPONSIBILITY
P.O. Box 4187 Seattle, WA 98194