Notes for a fallen friend

North High sophomore and Polars starting quarterback Deshaun Hill was fatally shot on Feb. 8 at a bus stop near the intersection of Penn Avenue and Golden Valley Road. His death sent a seismic shock wave through North Minneapolis.

North students expressed their grief and heartbreak through art, poetry and written reflections of their friend, D-Hill. A few students were willing to share their work with North News. The essays have been lightly edited for brevity. Sophomore Taylor Butler photographed Hill’s locker and some of the items made in his memory.

‘A true superstar in the making’

By Jaivon Hill, 11th grade

Deshaun was a very quiet person for the most part, but once you got him out of his shell, he was outgoing, funny, sweet and focused on school and sports. Anybody you talk to about Deshaun will tell you that he was a great friend and teammate. He touched the hearts of the whole Northside community.

On the football field, he led by example, always putting in the work without complaining. As QB1 he was asked to do a lot for the team. Whenever coaches got on him for poor play or practice, he

took it upon himself to do better. He was a true superstar in the making. Just ask the teammates and coaches he played for over the year.

His jersey number nine will be retired and worn on the helmets of the North High players next season. His legacy shall be remembered forever throughout the Northside. In most eyes, he was truly a one-of-a-kind kid, friend, student and teammate."

Dreams of making the NFL

By Taylor Butler, 10th grade

I’ve known D-Hill since we were in kindergarten. He used to hit backflips in the big field at recess and we all thought that was the coolest thing we’ve ever seen because we were little kids.

Another thing I remember was how he cried for the first half of the day in kindergarten after his mom dropped him off. I also remember in fourth grade, whenever the teacher would ask him a question, he would shrug. His answer would always be “I don’t know” and that would be the funniest thing. I don't know why that was funny to me but he was just a funny kid in general. D-Hill had a very bright future and I always told him that after every home football game. I took advanced placement world

history with him and he would always airdrop funny memes and videos to people and I would ask whose airdropping stuff and he would pretend it wasn't him. But everyone who sat by him knew it was him.

He always told me that his dreams were to go to the NFL and I always believed him because I used to watch him play football at recess all the time and I knew he would make it to the big league ever since we were little. The Northside will remember D-Hill as a star football player who would’ve put North Minneapolis on the map when he made it out.

‘I will forever keep your name alive’

By Samiah-Sy'mone Sims, 10th Grade

I don’t know how to feel right now. I'm lost for words. I’m hurting bad. I never lost a friend before. Now I'm experiencing it. D-Hill didn't deserve this. He never did anything to anybody! He had so much to live for. Y'all so wrong for taking him from us, bruh. This doesn't feel right at all.

He was the varsity football quarterback. He can't even play football no more because y'all dumb a– people who don't care for nobody took him. He was ONLY 15 YEARS OLD!

D-Hill was a good person. All he wanted to do was play football! D-Hill stayed on people he knew, telling them to go to class. D-Hill wanted everybody to succeed and be great.

You hurt me with this one. I'm sorry, I really am sorry. I will forever keep your name alive and rep your number! I promise you.

Man, you was a straight "A" student! You stayed on the honor roll. I’m hurt bad, man. We are letting balloons go for you today on your field, man. I wanna cry but I hold it in because I know you wouldn't want to see me like this. I got to hug your older sister. She was wearing

your jacket. Your whole family is hurt. Seeing you on the news non-football related was tragic, man! It hurt when your mom said, "This is why I take my baby to school everyday because I don't want nothing like this to happen, but it

still happened."
Man, man, man. I don’t know what

else to say. But I'm going to be at your funeral and I got you close to my heart. I got your pictures in my room. I'm going to hang them up. I want you to know that you are forever in my heart . My soul hurt, D-Hill. It really does. Oh yeah, the last time I talked to you was that Wednesday morning. You said "Can I have some (of your snack) and I told you no, but you took it anyway and tried to run. Then you pushed me and told me to “go to class.” That's what I did.

LONG LIVE D-HILL. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN! LEFT US TOO SOON. I LOVE YOU D-HILL. I’M SORRY THIS HAPPENED!

‘The sorrow of Hell rose in an hour’

By Caleb Tietjen, 9th grade

D-Hill is a beloved teammate and brother to many. He is a good kid and student who is loved and gives love to all those around him. He is also the heart and joy of the North High football team. The quarterback and brother of the whole team. He means so much to so many of us, and to those who don’t know him, know of his influence.

Many things had been going on the week of Feb. 9. Amir Locke had been shot and murdered by police the week before, and area high schools on Feb. 8 held a walkout, calling for justice for him. Students rallied at the governor's mansion and made their voices heard. They gathered to fight against inequality and to try to bring peace. The next day, North High students held a sit-in at City Hall led by Taylor Butler to get the Mayor to notice them and make their voices heard.

Onthewaybacktoschool from the sit-in that was for the safety and justice of Black people, the kids and staff of North High heard about a shooting. An hour later, all of Hell's sorrow and more came to the community of North High school.

This was a quiet, sorrowful hour. The only things you could hear were the creaks of doors and the gasps of the crying. People went around to support each other and find the facts. Rumors spread and people spoke quietly, people cried and hugged, and overall everything went quiet. Everyone's whole world froze and started to crumble. No one could really understand what was going on. People would just sit and zone out, unsure of what to think or what to do. Those who didn’t know him watched as friends and family crumbled in tears. People also blew up with anger. No one could comprehend the events of the day.

The next day was an odd day. Most people did not come back to school, and for those who did, they came in complete silence. The silence of the school was the loudest statement. People did not stop crying and this time they ran around to support each other and catch each other's tears. Anyone could feel the weight of the emotions around them. People prayed and sat in silence. People did whatever they could for each other to make it through. It was a time of ups and downs, everyone cried and everyone laughed as someone would make a joke to lighten the mood. People would ask if others were okay, knowing what they really meant was were they hanging on or not.