Raquan Demetrius Ali Campbell, a popular and outgoing 15-year-old known to everyone as "Ra-Ra," was a bright presence in his Cherry Hill community in Baltimore. Born on July 13, 1995, to Lystra Ali-Campbell and Antwon Campbell, Raquan was the youngest of four brothers and was considered the apple of his parents' eyes. He was an outspoken young man who enjoyed sharing his thoughts on everything from politics to sports. With an infectious smile and a generous spirit, he quickly became a well-known and well-liked student upon enrolling at Edmonson-Westside High School.
A talented and avid football player, Raquan played for several Pop Warner teams, including the South Side Chargers and the Baltimore Panthers, excelling as both a running back and linebacker. At the time of his death, he was playing for the Cherry Hill Eagles. His popularity at school was immense; during his short time at Edmonson-Westside, he earned numerous awards for the Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed," "Most Likely to Be President," and "Prettiest Smile." In 2009, in a last-minute decision, he ran for the Homecoming Court and was thrilled to have won.
The vibrant life of this promising Black teenager was cut short on the evening of Wednesday, December 1, 2010. Around 5 p.m., Baltimore Police Department officers were called to the corner of South Payson and Pratt Streets in the Carrollton Ridge neighborhood for a report of a serious shooting. There, they found Raquan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his head and lower body. He was rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, but his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead shortly after 6 p.m.
The reason Raquan was in the Carrollton Ridge neighborhood, far from his Cherry Hill home, remains a painful mystery for his family. His mother, Lystra Ali-Campbell, later expressed her unfamiliarity with the area and her deep hurt that none of her son's friends would come forward to explain what he was doing there. The investigation into his murder yielded no motive, and despite his mother's tireless efforts to seek justice, the case quickly grew cold.
In the years following the shooting, Lystra Ali-Campbell has continued to make public appeals for information, holding onto hope for truth and closure. "In that timeframe, there has been no leads, no arrests, no tips, no anything, so we're basically at square one, according to the detectives," she stated in a 2012 interview. She and her family have held memorials and vigils on holidays and anniversaries at the site of the shooting to ensure the community does not forget that his killer remains free. "I am a forgiving woman, I just want the truth and I want justice," she said, expressing a wish that no other mother would have to endure her pain.
The Baltimore Police Department confirmed in July 2012 that there were no new leads in Raquan Campbell's case. His murder remains unsolved, one of many cold cases in the city. His family continues to cherish his memory, remembering the heartthrob and community standout who was taken from them senselessly on a street corner. The family held a viewing and funeral services for Raquan on December 10 and 11, 2010. As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified.
