Marcus Hunter II will graduate from DeLaSalle High School on Thursday night, but that's just the beginning of his story.
In March, Marcus penned an Op-Ed in the Star Tribune where he compared living in north Minneapolis to living in a cemetery. Hunter II shared with readers how his own father is among the trees bearing memorials in north Minneapolis remembering those who have been killed.
Marcus's father, Marcus Hunter Sr, is among the memorials after he was shot and killed during a robbery in north Minneapolis.
On Thursday, Hunter II told WCCO Radio's Mike Max about the continued nightmare of living in the Northside Community amidst ongoing gun violence.
"It's very hard to say the least. There's a lot of fear that surrounds living here and having that weigh on your time every time you step out of your house," Hunter II said. "You can't even walk down the street anymore around here by the way people are being killed so much. It's not just one age group. All ages are being shot, gun downed, and killed."
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Marcus is just months away from attending the University of Arizona where he will study communications and business. For now, he's focused on how he can stay safe in the community he calls home.
"I can't keep headphones in my ears anymore to try and be more aware of my surroundings," he said. "If anything were to happen I would be aware and try to prevent it the best I could. When I see cars driving slowly down the street I'm walking, there's fear there too."
Marcus said that as Black man the fear of seeing a police officer or police car is a momentary fear compared to the fear he has living in north Minneapolis.
"You see a police car, you feel that fear, the confrontation, and that goes away once they drive off," he said. "The fear of walking outside into the community is perpetuated and it doesn't go away."
A GoFundMe for Marcus and his college endeavors has raised nearly $57,000
"The shock value [of the GoFundMe] was great, actually. It was unexpected, but it didn't overwhelm me. It excited me because I'm grateful just to see the support and how my writing has resonated and the outreach that it has brought upon everyone."