On Aug. 12, a gunman fatally shot 24-year-old Whitney Brown as she sat in her car on a North St. Louis street. Her 5-year-old son, Jakeem, was in the backseat.
On Tuesday, a St. Louis County police officer and his wife, both of whom were saddened by the story but wish to remain anonymous, took Jakeem on a back-to-school shopping spree. According to KMOV, the officer bought the 5-year-old school supplies, "black-and-green sneakers, green shirts and jackets" because, according to Jakeem, green was his mother's favorite color.
Jakeem’s grandmother Erica Jones, who takes care of her grandson, was overcome with emotion.
"You don’t find too many people who would be willing to help somebody going through tragedy," Jones told the news station. "His gesture of kindness and gratitude that he showed to my grandson speaks volumes."
Jones hopes that the story of the police officer's kindness spreads so that others in the community don't automatically assume that all officers are bad.
"He [Jakeem] cried when the officer left," Jones told the news station. "He wanted to go over to his house and play with the grandsons."
Jones told the news station that she would love for the officer to stay in touch with Jakeem "because he has been a positive influence during a troubling time," KMOV reports.
Read more at KMOV.