A Texas mother, still grieving the loss of her own daughter in a drive-by shooting, is now extending her support to another mother whose teen was recently a victim of gun violence. Diane Smith, who lost her 18-year-old daughter Maekalyn Ann Marie Smith in 2022, spoke of the urgent need for community intervention following the shooting of a 16-year-old girl in Seguin this past weekend.
Smith, who is advocating for changes to reduce youth gun violence in her community, told KENS 5 "This is a small community, we have to do something." Her daughter’s memory is honored at a local park where a vibrant memorial stands beside a basketball court. Maekalyn, who had just graduated high school, had aspirations of attending Texas A&M University and becoming a veterinarian. Remembered for her humor and sweetness, Maekalyn's violent death has left her family, and now another, grappling with a painful reality.
The recent shooting occurred on May 4, where responders discovered the wounded teen. Transported to a San Antonio hospital, the girl was listed in critical condition. Upon hearing the news, Smith recounted the emotional turmoil of not knowing the outcome, sadly reminiscent of her own tragic experience.
"My heart dropped because I didn’t know what had happened, I didn’t know if she had passed, if she had made it, I didn’t know anything," Smith said in an interview. She already knows too well the toll that gun violence can exact on a family after her own daughter's killer was sentenced to 99 years in prison, and she has since been diagnosed with PTSD.
Addressing the larger issue of responsibility and prevention, Smith and her other daughter Annelia Douglas assert that there’s only so much a parent can do to influence their children. "At some point, are they gonna hold the people accountable for where they getting the guns from," Douglas asked. In response, the bereaved family calls on schools, the City of Seguin, and non-profits to provide more recreational activities that could keep youth engaged and away from crime.
The community’s grief, combined with Smith’s and Douglas's calls to action, spotlight the necessity for a response to the ongoing threat of youth gun violence. Both families affected by these shootings share a hope that through greater community involvement and support, such tragedies can be prevented, sparing others the unbearable pain of loss. "Don’t want another family to have to go through what we went through," Douglas emphasized in her plea for change.
