By WMBD TV
BLOOMINGTON – A mother grieves her son’s death as she watched on in court Thursday morning.
Kanye Stowers’ mom Tomeka Love shared her feelings after this being the 6th straight hearing without any movement in the case in McLean County Circuit Court.
“I’m angry. I’m mad,” Love said. “It’s been three years, and my son is gone. I can’t bring him back.”
Charged is Tomiyale Anderson of Georgia, who is accused of first-degree murder stemming from the death of Peoria teen Kanye Stowers.
Anderson is accused of killing Stowers at a Bloomington house party in April 2022.
This was Tomiyale Anderson’s third appearance since hiring private defense attorney Jennifer Patton.
Anderson faces at least 20 years and possibly up to 60 years in prison if convicted. He also faces lesser charges of attempted murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm.
Love was joined in court by members of an organization called Moms Demand Action, a nationwide movement of mothers who fight for, as their website says, “public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.”
Love reinforced her commitment to her son’s legacy and to other mothers whose children have been killed by gun violence.
“I want to be here every day of that trial,” she said. “I’m not going to miss, not one date, one beat, I promise you that. And I’m not just doing this for me as a mother, I’m doing it for all the mothers of gun violence who lost their kids.”
Patton asked the judge for an additional 60 days to go through discovery which is a legal term for evidence.
Since 60 days would be around the holiday season, the next hearing was scheduled for Jan. 8.
