**A march with nearly 200 mourners walked from Russel Avenue to the 4th Precinct to remember Mariah Samuels, who was killed after asking police for help with an abusive ex-boyfriend.** Photo by David Pierini

By David Pierini and Azhae’la Hanson, North News

In the final minutes of her life, Mariah Samuels asked a Minneapolis police officer to protect her from an abusive ex-boyfriend. When the officer left, she wrote a damning Facebook post about the lack of response.

Moments later, she was dead, shot 10 times on the stoop of a home on Russell Avenue.

Police arrested the former boyfriend, David Eugene Wright, and he now sits in a jail cell awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge.

Chanting “Mariah” and “protect and serve,” nearly 200 mourners on Saturday marched to the 4th Police Precinct on Sept. 20 to remember Samuels and demand answers to how the justice system failed a woman who sought police help, went to court for a protective order, and, as one speaker said, “did all the things we ask women to do” when threatened with violence.

Samuels, 34, was killed on Sept. 14 and died at the scene. The same officer who made the initial contact with her responded after the shooting and tried to revive her, a family member said.

In August, Samuels received a protection order from a judge after Wright allegedly pistol-whipped her and threatened to harm her and members of her family.

“It has been devastating watching people I have known and loved my whole life carry this pain,” said Jami Dixon, who survived being shot by a partner. “Her death is not just a tragedy; it is proof that something must change now. Mariah’s death is not because she did not fight; it’s because the system did not fight for her. We can honor her by refusing to let the system off the hook. We know this is not just about Mariah. It’s about every woman, every mother, every daughter, every friend who is not out there begging to be heard before it’s too late.”

**The family and friends of Mariah Samuels took part in a prayer outside the 4th Precinct.** Photo by David Pierini

In a statement to North News, MPD Sgt. Garret Parten said the victim did not want charges pressed for an incident that preceded the protection order. “A domestic advocate reached out to the victim as did our community navigator,” Parten said. “(The navigator) assisted with the Order for Protection and talked about a safety plan.”

Family and friends carried a banner with three beloved photos of Mariah, affectionately known as Juicy. The march started outside the home on Russell, where there was a table with resources on where women can get help escaping an abusive relationship.

“I question God on this one,” said oldest sister, Selina Owens. “I know we’re not supposed to, but it’s like she was the sacrifice. It was already written. I love her. I’m going to miss her. But what makes me at peace is just knowing she’s about to change the world.”

The march paused for a prayer near the corner of 16th and Newton avenues, then proceeded to the 4th Precinct, where mourners, wearing purple gathered peacefully. Family members spoke of her life and demanded accountability. No one from MPD joined the group during the brief rally at the precinct.

**Avonne Winston said her niece was living her dream life with two sons and a job as a pet groomer.** Photo by David Pierini

Mariah had two sons, one 11 and another who recently graduated from high school. She worked as a pet groomer at Petco and was the preferred pet groomer for her neighbors and large extended family.

She loved all animals and butterflies, family said. At two points during the rally, mourners noticed Monarch butterflies flitting above the crowd.

“She was living her dream,” her aunt, Avonne Winston, said. “She took care of all the pets. We talked about opening a pet boutique together.”

Winston said Wright’s parole officer would have received reports that he was still violent. It was his legal responsibility to seek to have Wright’s parole revoked, Winston said. She rejected the police statement that Mariah didn’t want to press charges against Wright.

Winston described the large extended family in which Mariah was raised as close-knit. She said her mother struggled to parent when Mariah was young, so the larger family raised her. “We all raised each other,” she said. “To be honest, we have not processed this yet, because it was cold and preventable.”

Winston said after Mariah was declared dead, “the officer said he was sorry, multiple, multiple times.”

Mariah Samuels did all she could to stop abusive ex. Family says police failed to act