Family Mourns Marine Murdered In Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The family of a Marine is still struggling to come to terms with his murder at a club in Baltimore, just days before he was heading to Afghanistan.
His sister spoke to Mike Hellgren just days after police arrested a teenager and charged him with the brutal crime.
Marine Sergeant Chase Love worked in some of the most dangerous combat zones in the world in Iraq and Afghanistan. His family never imagined he would die at a hookah lounge during his first visit to Baltimore with friends.
Police say Ronald Johnson, 18, shot him over and over again during an argument, before fleeing and leaving Love to die on the sidewalk.
For the first time, Love's sister is speaking about the crime from her home near New Orleans.
"I think this would have been his third time going to Afghanistan and he always came home scot-free, untouched, never hurt. I just couldn't even compose myself. I just couldn't believe it," said Keoka Love. "I really thought I was living a dream."
Charging documents reveal witnesses came forward despite the city's "stop snitching" mentality, allowing police to make the arrest six months after the crime.
"How this young guy got into a hookah bar with a gun...I mean, who does that? I was glad to know that those people were brave enough to come and say, `Well, we did see this guy.' Because he hasn't been convicted yet. It's like I'm still, you know, kind of on the edge," Love said.
She said finding closure is difficult.
"He was an uncle, he was a brother, he was a son, he was a husband. It's like...this guy, he just tore us apart," she said.
Johnson faces murder and handgun charges. He's scheduled to appear in court next month.
"I just have so much anger built up inside toward this guy. I know that I'm not supposed to hate anyone but I really have to pray and ask God to take that hate out of my heart," Love said.
Police are not revealing the identities of the witnesses for their safety, but they are expected to testify about what they saw.
