'Keep in mind'

Nineteen-year-old Kimberly Bonds cherished life.

Bonds' friend, Marguerite Gray, 33, said she liked taking pictures of landscapes. Gray said Bonds was attending Cal State Dominguez Hills to become a professional photographer.

"One thing I definitely remember is that she loved taking pictures," said Bonds' sister, Candi Bobbitt, 25. "If a tree [swayed] one way, she would take a picture."

Bonds, the youngest of four girls, graduated from Centennial High School in Compton, where she played basketball. She loved children and befriended almost every child at the South Bay Villa Apartment complex in Athens, where she lived with Gray.

At home, Gray said Bonds would call her 7-month-old nephew, Tyler, pictured left, her best friend. Bobbitt said that her sister would call her 1-year-old son her soul mate. Now, Bobbitt, who lives in St. Louis, said she cries when she looks at her son.

On Sunday, July 13, Bonds was walking home along San Pedro Street when she stopped to talk with friends in front of her apartment complex, said Gray. Two black men walked out of an alley across from the complex. Then, the men began shooting at rival gang members standing near her. Gray said Bonds, attempting to take cover, was struck by gunfire.  Friends told Gray that they had taken Bonds to the hospital. An ambulance had been called but Gray said it took too long. Hours later, Bonds was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The next day, Gray held a vigil for Bonds. She printed pictures of her and taped them to the security gate by the driveway, where Bonds had collapsed. Flowers and glass-encased vigil candles were also placed next to the patch of grass in her memory.

"I put her pictures up so that [the shooters] can see what kind of life they took away," Gray said. "She can't finish school now. This baby was going to school."

In the kitchen of her apartment, with her children nearby, Gray said she was grateful to Bonds. Gray said Bonds had spoken to her 15-year-old son who was starting to wear red clothing, a color associated with the Bloods gang. Gray said that her son was also staying out late, but after Bonds spoke to him, he stopped wearing red clothing and started staying home.  "I thank her so much because my son stays home," Gray said.

In the kitchen, Gray's nephew, Tyler, starts to crawl for the first time. Behind her, on a bookshelf, is a piece of paper with the acronym K.I.M. 

"It means 'Keep in mind,'" Gray's daughter said.

Update: An earlier version of this story referred to Kimberly Bonds' sister as Brandi Bobbit. Her first name is Candi.

—Ruben Vives / Los Angeles Times

Comments

kb i luv yu more than words can describe and more than my actions can show..i cry and pray silently for yu everyday and theres not a thought in my head that u dont consume. i can honestly say ive been sleepless up untill today..ur birthday! ive numbed myself to this pain..becuz letting u see me cry would have made me a simp..lol. you are my brother inside and out and when we were together nobody could get wit us. my heart hurts s0o bad wishin this was me..and hoping in sum way i could have prevented this..but the more reality hits the more i lose myself and if u were here u waould have neva let that happen..s0o i roll wit the punches and keep yu in my heart and by myside everyday. your brother loves yu kim..may he give yu all that is promised and s0o much more.

j.b

[candi bobbitt]

i want to say that we do thank you for this story on my younger sister Kimberly Faye Bonds. She was one of the most silliest people who graced this earth plus she loved making videos and taking pictures. I am going to miss my little sister. to the person who took her life that was truely a cowardly act. you killed an INNOCENT girl. A COLLEGE STUDENT who had big dreams for the future. Please know that I do FORGIVE YOU for what you have done but you have to make your peace with God.

I LOVE YOU KIMBERLY,
BIG SIS Candi

[Beauty4Ashes]

Beautiful, talented young girl gone. God bless you Kimberly.

[Always]

Words can't express how much i miss u. Each day i look @ our journal and it reminds me of your strength. My tears and fears stop, when i think about you. Sad because i never had the chance to tell you how much i appreciate you. Your soul, your silliness, ur sensitivity, ur words....how u would just make me speak 2 u, even when i was mad at u (smile).....Out of all the things i regret , im happy our final words to eachother (just 2 days prior to leaving this earth) was "I Love You"......one day we shall have our lunch 2gether....I LOVE YOU with all my heart.....

Watch over my Lil One, up there 2......

[chris pinkney]

MAN KIM WAS MY GIRL, MORE WAYS THAN 1 AND BABY GIRL U WILL ALWAYZ B MISSED,AND SHE WAS ON MY HEAD ABOUT GETTIN HER SIX FLAGS SEASON PASS AND I GOT IT AND THE DAY I CAME BAC HM WHICH I STAY ON 130TH AND SAN PEDRO AFTER I HAD JUS GOT OUT OF MY CHURCH LIL ZION AND FOUND OUT THAT KIM HAD BEEN SHOT OVER SOME STUPID MESS MAN, AND I STILL GOT YO SEASON PASS AND FOR U IMA GO TO SIX FLAGS AND ACT A FOOL AND ITS FOR YOU KIM,LUV YOU AND REST N PEACE BABY GIRL.

[KWinn]

How many of our youth have to die before something is done..how many more innocent citizens must die before something is done. These idiots shooting at each other miss but kill an innocent bystander. If we can spend 10 million/mth on the war in Iraq surely we can do something about the violence on our streets. Its' time for hardworking individuals to take back the streets from these thugs..someone knows something..speak up..next time it could be you are your loved one.

[YOLIE]

REST IN PEACE, ANGEL.

[An Educated Black Woman:(]

Kim sounds to be a wonderful young lady. I am a mom of a young daughter and I live not to far from where this took place. She sound like she was everything I want my daughter to be beautiful inside and out, respectful, encouraging, loving, focused, and educated. We all know that it is a problem with the gangs in all neighborhoods some more apparent, than others; I pray that people don't stand by and let the shooters get away with this one! As a community we have to make and example out of the ones that choose to live there life in this manner and make them real uncomfortable to do acts like this in our neighborhoods so they will consider the consequences before other innocent people get hurt and killed. The shooters are not just monsters they are people we speak to, see in the store, over to our homes, or/an even our husbands, boyfriends, baby daddy's, brothers, cousins, and as family we are responsible for one another and "yes you are your brothers/sisters keeper!" It's hurtful people but we have to start somewhere. To Kim's family and friends I apologize for your loss, but you got the opportunity to know her (smile) so live on for her, live by example as she would and I touch and agree with you in prayer that justice is served and her death is not in vain and that God show you his love and comfort to ease your pain...Love u all with God's love!

[Big Ten Class of 06]

Kim was one of those cool people @ the 10.. Anyone who had Ms. Williams for AP english in the 11th grade knew that laughter was needed because of the ontensity of the course work. Kim provided the laughter we needed. She was always on her scooter when I saw her @ the Hills. We all have to have ourselves right with God because we never know when it will be us.

R.I.P. Kim

[ginger]

Ok, time to bring in the National Guard. Hardworking people are afraid to speak up and out for fear of being the next murder victim. Why are we the law abiding residents of these communities allowing this violence to continue? It's not just up to the police to protect our interest. We have to work together.

[Kenny]

Wow...beautiful girl...and the sad thing is, this is nothing new in L.A.

[kasey brooks]

God bless and rest your soul. He seen that you was too BEAUTIFUL for this world and took you home. Now you have no more worries and pain.

To the family left behind, it's you whom really suffers the most. May God ease your pain overtime.

To the nephew who had enough sense to listen to his auntie:continue to heed her words and dont let the pain of loosing her lead you into a life of gangbanging. You are better then that. She will be looking upon you...so let her see you continue to do good in this world.

I will keep you all in my prayers. God Bless

Kasey.

[just me]

First I would like to say "Thank You Ruben". I am the one who emailed you and asked if you could do a more extensive story on Kimberly.

My daughter went to school with Kimberly's sisters, my son went to school with Kimberly. These girls were raised by their grandmother. I remember their grandmother at the school's ALL the time. She walked these girls to school everyday, even when the twins were in high school, she kept a watchfull eye. Kimberly had grown into a beautiful soul. As I looked at her photography work on her myspace page, her work no doubt shows talent, I envisioned Kimberly taking pictures in war torn areas, I envisioned Kimberly going to Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq, and all the places her camera could take her, there is no doubt in my mind that Kimberly could have worked the National Geograhic circut. But someone took that away from her in the blink of an eye.

Its easy for us to say "Stop the Violence", but its time to do something about it. These are "our" sons that are taking to the streets and killing, these are "our" sons that feel the need to outfit themselves in the "Red" and Blue. Be it from "The West". Athens Park", or whatever hood you claim, it is time for us to take back control of "our" sons.........for Kimberly, she was a beautiful soul.