Loved ones remember shooting victim

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Loved ones gathered with heavy hearts Thursday afternoon to remember the life of a western New York native gunned down as he celebrated one year of marriage.

Hundreds of mourners gathered Thursday morning to remember Danyell Mackin and give support to his family, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is in attendance also.

Mackin leaves behind six-month-old daughter Destinee and a six-year-old son Danyell Jr.

His wife Tanisha was with her husband at the City Grill early Saturday morning, when they were celebrating their one-year anniversary with Buffalo relatives and friends.

The couple had been married in Texas.

Tanisha had escaped gunfire, but her husband Danyell was one of four people shot to death. Four more were wounded, one critically.

Family friend Sid Sweat said, "The pain and suffering the family has to go through we can't replace it, Rich you can't replace it, Channel 4 can't replace it, I can't replace it, Buffalo can't replace it, Mayor Byron Brown can't replace it. So basically what I'm asking everybody to do is, let's make a change."

"Buffalo has responded in a way that we have never seen before. People are really angry, people are getting discouraged. But they responded in a way we've never seen before. Lots of love, caring pouring out for all the families involved," said Arlee Daniels, of the Stop the Violence Coalition.

At the funeral of Danyell Lamar Mackin Sr. there is a picture on the program of the 30-year-old man on who was gunned down with the quote, "I am the life of the party, in ain't a party without me."

News 4 is learning more about Danyell Mackin, he was a senior teller at BBBA-Compass Bank in Austin, Texas, and a former NYS Thruway Authority worker.

He was a 1997 graduate of Emerson High School and attended Erie Community College.

He moved to Austin, Texas to provide a better life for his family.

He married his childhood sweetheart Tanisha Stephens.

Danyell was known as "Dee" to his friends.

Tanisha is known as "Tee," and she says "I do not know what I am going to do without you, I am so lost and confused I love you so much, words can never explain how much I love and miss you, you are now our angel. I'm lost, but I know in time God will heal my heart."

Tanisha's mother Cheryl Stephens said, this is what happens to families, people with guns. Cheryl said, "You don't even hit the ones you're going for," she made a plea, "put the gun down."

"Believe me this isn't going to be the last time... because of foolishness," Cheryl said.

Governor David Paterson sent his condolences to the family, and his comments were read at the funeral. He called Danyell Mackin a devoted, loving husband and father, "and pillar of strength to his community."

Pastor Darius Pridgen called the shooter "a coward." He said if the shooter isn't found by Friday, a reward will go out for his capture and conviction

If no one gets the reward it will be split up and given to the families who suffered the tragic losses.

 

Pastor Annette Hood from the Blackwell Chapel in Jamestown, who knows the family of Tanisha, was among the last to speak and she said, "This is a generation who doesn't singularly want to know God. Who's fault is it?" Hood continued, "Tthe greatest responsibility for teaching our children to love God falls to the family. When a family fails to teach servants to love God, we get what's happening all over the country, senseless killing and people with no regard for human life."