NORTH LITTLE ROCK,Ark.–The mother of an 18-year-old murder victim says she forgives the man accused of killing her daughter.
The shooting rattled a North Little Rock neighborhood earlier this week; many called it an act of domestic violence.
The mother of the victim says this is not the first time she has dealt with the murder of a loved one.
She says she is relying on family and her faith after seeing her brother, her husband and now her daughter murdered in the last few years.
Family pictures lined the table inside the home of an 18-year-old whose life was tragically taken away.
For mother, Yolanda Young, death is nothing new.
“My husband he had an associate’s degree, he was murdered,” she said. “My brother was murdered, Ron Everhard, in 94, so I’ve been in the healing process a long time.”
She never thought she would see her daughter shot dead on the ground at a home in North Little Rock.
“This is my daughter, this is my first born,” said Yolanda.
Police say 20-year-old Robert Burton shot his girlfriends, Yasha Bonds, in the head after an argument.
“I don’t blame him. He was from an environment, and I do forgive him because my mother forgave my brother’s murderer,” Yolanda said.
The pain is still clear as family and friends remember the charismatic teen.
“It still feels like she’s still here, it don’t feel like she got murdered, or nothing,” said Bonds’ friend Janella.
Through forgiveness and faith, Young hopes to change the cycle of violence she is used to seeing.
“I know everyone is sad about Yasha, but God Used Yasha to open your eyes and start caring for one another,” Young said.
Burton has pleaded not guilty to Capital Murder and is being held without bond.
He is expected back in court on November 30.
To help out the family visit the GoFundMe page started by Yasha’s mother.