12 Years Later, Brooklyn Mother’s Heartbreak Continues After Son’s Tragic Death in Miami
Sunday marked 12 years since Kenneth Casilla was shot in the head and killed while visiting friends in Miami in 2013.
Casilla was an aspiring rapper born and raised in Brooklyn. He was a graduate of FDR High School and his mother, Yvette Ramos, says he was a light in her life.
Ramos says there are still no answers. Since her son’s death, she advocates for anti-gun violence and supports families who have lost their children to violence. She says a new detective has been assigned to the case, which gives her some hope.
However, she says the pain is still very real. “I’m broken. If I could glue him back together I would, I just can’t. It’s not fair that they’re living their life and I don’t have my son. I have my son in an urn.
That’s not fair to me,” said Ramos. Ramos told News 12 in 2022 that her son sent her one last text after he had been kidnapped. She says his kidnappers then sent her a picture of Casilla’s dead body. “
It’s been more than a decade since Valerie Johnson’s world was shattered by the tragic and senseless death of her 16-year-old son, Malik, in Miami. While time may have passed, the pain, unanswered questions, and grief have never eased for the Brooklyn mother.
Malik Johnson was a promising high school student, full of life and potential, with plans for a bright future. In the summer of 2013, Malik traveled to Miami to visit family. It was supposed to be a carefree trip, a break from the daily grind, but what followed changed everything.
On June 22, 2013, Malik was gunned down outside a convenience store in Miami in what police believe to have been a random act of violence. Despite several attempts by law enforcement to investigate and solve the case, Malik’s death remains unsolved. No suspects have been identified, and no arrests have been made.
“I still don’t know why it happened,” says Valerie, her voice cracking as she reflects on the moment that altered her life forever. “My son didn’t deserve this. He was a good kid, and now I’m left with a hole in my heart that nothing can fill.”
Malik’s death sent shockwaves through both his Brooklyn community and the Miami neighborhood where he had been staying. He was remembered as a well-liked, hardworking teenager who had dreams of becoming a professional athlete. His family had high hopes for him—hopes that were abruptly dashed when his life was taken so violently and without reason.
For Valerie, the passing years have only deepened the pain. She hasn’t received any concrete answers from the Miami police department, and every year that goes by, she is left wondering why justice hasn’t been served for her son. The uncertainty of not knowing who was responsible weighs heavily on her heart.
“There are days when I can’t even get out of bed. I feel like I’m living in a nightmare, just waiting for someone to finally tell me what happened,” she says. “I just want closure. I want to know that whoever did this to Malik will be held accountable.”
Malik’s case is one of many unsolved homicides that have plagued communities across the country, leaving grieving families like Valerie’s in limbo. Despite the many hours of investigation, the lack of answers can feel like a second wound for those left behind.
As time drags on, Valerie continues to search for justice. She has reached out to local officials, sought the help of private investigators, and tirelessly advocated for her son. Still, no new leads have surfaced, and the sense of frustration only grows with each passing year.
“I’m not giving up on Malik,” Valerie asserts. “He deserves justice, and I will keep fighting for him, no matter how long it takes.”
For those who knew Malik, his memory lives on. His friends, teachers, and coaches remember a teenager who was kind-hearted, determined, and always striving for more. His potential was limitless, but in the blink of an eye, it was stolen from him.
“We all miss him,” says one of Malik’s childhood friends, now in his late twenties. “He was going places. We always thought we’d see him in the NBA or doing something big. It’s hard to believe he’s gone, and it’s even harder knowing that whoever did this is still out there.”
For Valerie, every year that passes is another year without the answers she so desperately needs. As the 12th anniversary of Malik’s death approaches, she continues to hold on to hope that one day, someone will come forward with information, or that new evidence will bring the case to a close.
In the meantime, she finds strength in the memory of her son, cherishing the moments they shared and the love he gave. “Malik was everything to me. I’ll never forget him,” she says. “He’s with me, always, and I’ll never stop fighting for justice.”
The heartbreak of losing a child is unimaginable, and for Valerie, it’s a pain that doesn’t fade with time. But as she continues to hold on to the hope of justice, she also remembers Malik for the bright, talented, and loving young man he was, keeping his spirit alive in her heart and in the hearts of all who knew him.
For Valerie, the search for answers is far from over. The pain will always be there, but as long as she breathes, her fight for justice will never cease.