'He loved Josh Allen': Mother who lost 3-year-old son to gun violence gets special moment with Bills QB
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — In an effort to honor her baby boy who was killed in a June shooting in Buffalo, Shakenya Griffin and her family took an invite to Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher University and lived out his dreams of meeting the team.
Three-year-old Ramone Carter, a devoted Bills fan, was killed just a few weeks before what would have been his fourth birthday.
"He would have been four July sixth," Griffin said. "Josh Allen was his Buffalo Bill - he was his favorite."
Griffin told WIVB's sister station WROC News 8 they were invited to camp by the team recently. There, she told his story once again, but this time, to the team that inspired her son the most.
"If my son was here - my son would love to have got the chance," she said. "My god sister made him a big Bills fan. He was definitely a Bills fan."
As Bills quarterback Josh Allen approached the family, a young girl standing next to Griffin stood tall on the bars of the railing, anticipating his arrival. He stopped and gave full attention as Griffin explained what had happened. The young girl could be heard shouting "he loved Josh Allen." Allen expressed his sympathy before hugging Griffin and looked at a picture of the young boy on her cellphone.
"I just - I wanted to cry," Griffin said of getting a hug from Allen. "I wanted to break [down] in tears. I cried on my way coming here. I'm happy I got the chance to see him."
Griffin was also able to meet other players, including Bills tight end Zach Davidson who signed the magazine dedicated to her son that she brought.