Families of victims gather for a day of reminiscing

YOUNGSTOWN

Quinton Floyd was quite the up-and-comer.

A four-year letter winner and track star at The Rayen School, the self-starter had aspirations of opening his own barbershop. After all, he cut his teammates’ hair, he cut his friends’ hair. Heck, he even cut his own hair.

But it all quickly ended for the 23-year-old business-management student at Clarion College in Pennsylvania.

Home for winter break, he was hanging out with some friends in Youngstown when they pitched the idea of going to a house party.

“He didn’t ever like house parties,” said his mother, 51-year-old Linda Floyd.

That night — as it crossed into morning of Dec. 24, 2006 — was no different. Quinton Floyd wasn’t about to go to the house party.

So Floyd stayed back at his friend’s house at 426 Sherwood Ave.

Early Christmas Eve morning, he and Devonte Kelly, 14, were shot and killed.

The loss — more than 41/2 years later — still resonates with his mother, great aunt, Mary, and brother Malcolm, who, along with about 75 other Youngstown residents, gathered together today for a day of reminiscing at Wick Park. It was a chance for those who had lost loved ones to violent crimes — many of which date back many years and are still unsolved — to share stories and provide comfort with the many residents inflicted with the pain of suddenly losing a brother, sister, mother or father.

Read the full story in Monday’s Vindicator.