Mourners from throughout the Richmond
community gathered at Byrd Park Wednesday
night for a candlelight vigil in memory of Tyler
J. Binsted, the VCU student murdered there
this past week.
Binsted’s family, including his sister and
twin brother, attended the Citizens Against
Crime-sponsored ceremony.
Alicia Rasin, a grief counselor who founded
the organization, addressed the crowd of about
100 with a message that evoked both sadness
and anger.
“People say ‘I know what you’re going
through; I know it’s hard.’ No, they don’t
know what his mother, who bore the pain
for her child, is going through,” Rasin said.
“Until something happens in your family,
something tragic like this, you don’t have a
clue. But what you can do is keep them in
your prayers every day.”
Howard Reed Scott III, 17, was arrested
hours after Binsted’s death and charged with
murder, robbery and possession of a firearm
while committing a felony. A second assailant,
thought to be between the ages of 13 and 15,
is still being sought.
Rasin had blunt words for the suspect.
“The other person who’s done this; I’m not
even worried about it,” she said, crediting the Richmond Police
Department’s detective work. “They will get him off the street.
You can run, but you cannot hide . If I were you, I would
turn myself in.”
Binsted’s mother’s candle was passed among the mourners,
with students and community members gathering in small
huddles.
Rasin asked the mourners to blow out the candles in unison.
Binsted’s brother, Seth, told Rasin his and Tyler’s birthday was
next week.
“Happy birthday, Tyler,” Rasin said with the crowd. “We
love you, Tyler.”
Shawn Lux, a business major at VCU, said although he did
not know Binsted, he felt compelled to attend the vigil.
“It’s just the fact the guy was at VCU,” Lux said. “If one
hurts, we all hurt.”
Both Lux and Homeland Security major Lanard Portee said
Binsted’s death served as a reminder of the dangers inherent
in urban living.
“Richmond is my hometown,” Portee said. “It really is a
reminder of the way things can swing any given night.
“It really upsets me. This guy was 19. He had a girlfriend. He
had the whole world and life was just beginning. He wanted to
do something with himself and some kid ended all that.”