On a snowy night in December, dozens of people packed into the “Feed My Children” operation center in Coon Rapids.
They were there to honor Jay Boughton, who was shot and killed in a random drive by shooting on Highway 169 in July of 2021.
In 2022, the Chicago man convicted of shooting him, Jamal Smith was sentenced to life in prison.
As you might expect, it has been extremely painful for Jay’s family. His wife Kristin decided early on, not to be angry, but instead, to stay in the “light” wearing the color yellow as a reminder.
“If I were to be angry, what would that that leave for my children,” she said. Her teenage son was in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. She said staying in the light gives her strength and courage to keep going.
Jay Boughton was a beloved youth baseball coach. His death hit the community hard, including the police officers who investigated the case, and the prosecutors who spent hours working to convict the man who killed him. In fact, the night of the “Feed My Starving Children” event, two of them joined in the effort.
“Jay was others-focused,” Kristin said.
Kristin and I went to high school together, and the case was at times difficult for me to cover. I texted her every now and again, sharing that I was in awe of her grace during this unimaginable pain , and even in that pain, there is light.
That light was clearly visible at “Feed My Starving Children.” The group included Jay’s son who was surrounded by his high school friends. There was laughter and joy as they all worked to pack enough food to feed 34 children in Ethiopia for a year.
Kristin’s father is a pastor, who told her that night, that she and others were able to offer the true gift of Christmas.