By Kathy Chouteau
Family, friends, teammates and other loved ones of Jammerrei’a “JMac” Frazier will come together on Thanksgiving to release balloons and doves in remembrance of the teen basketball enthusiast on the one year anniversary of his murder in Richmond.
Organized by JMac’s family, the “Ballin’ Like JMac Balloon Release” will take place at the Shields Reid Park basketball courts, 1410 Kelsey St. in Richmond Nov. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. The dove and balloon release will occur at around 2:30-2:45 p.m. and will feature balloons with JMac’s basketball jersey, number 32, as part of their remembrance of him. The public is welcome to attend and are encouraged to bring balloons and candles.
At the time of the tragic incident, “JMac” was a 17-year-old DeAnza High School student who, by all accounts, brought love and laughter into the life of everyone he touched. On Nov. 26, 2019, he was shot and killed while walking to Rancho Market on Market Ave. in Richmond. A year later, his murder remains unsolved. According to his sister, Jazmine Perkins, a four door black Infinity is of interest in the crime.
JMac—who was also called “Magic” like Magic Johnson due to his love of basketball—played basketball for Richmond High School, DeAnza High School and the East Bay Soldiers, a team with which he traveled extensively throughout California, Nevada and China. Before his death, multiple colleges had expressed interest in awarding him basketball scholarships, including Pasadena City College, California State East Bay, Texas State University, Chabot College and San Francisco State. JMac’s dream was to earn a scholarship and move his mother out of Richmond.
Through the upcoming event, JMac’s family is trying to raise awareness surrounding his murder while also “remembering the love and laughter JMac brought to everyone,” according to Perkins. “Maybe one day, that one person will want to make that call to the detective and have a heart, but until then—as the saying goes—I’m going to say his name,” she said. “He was an angel.”
Perkins, along with her/JMac’s mother, Jacqueline Frazier, will be among those remembering his life at Thursday’s event. Anyone with information about the crime should contact Lead Detective Jay Melen of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff at 925-313-2648.
