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To read about the Chattanooga Police Department’s effort to curb crime by building a diverse department as well as relationships within the community — two of new Chief David Roddy’s main priorities — visit timesfreepress.com.
Toriq Q. Johnson Sr., father of five, saw his third child born into the world. And it was that son who lay in his front yard dying on March 14 after being shot five times.
Johnson says his boy was 19 years old and full of dreams when he died.
Toriq Jr. wanted to be a rapper and electrician, but he got tangled in selling drugs and was killed. He is one of 28 homicides this year. Like Toriq Jr., half of the people killed this year are under age 25.
Johnson plans to start the Dreams Come True Foundation in his son's memory.
"My goal is to be able to help out in the community and to give jobs to young men that's growing up in the new generation," Johnson said. "To break hereditary curses and cycles that have come up in the households."
His goal is to keep other youth from the streets by mentoring them and teaching them how to build something. His first step is to raise money. Profits will go back into the organization to help youth continue their education. Johnson wants to pay youth a stipend for learning trades in construction and cosmetology.
"My foundation is about raising kids so they will be able to take care of their household and paying them what they're worth so there will be no corruption and it will turn the world around," he said.
Johnson is a certified HVAC technician and will teach that skill to youth. He said he's also friends with several contractors who will teach other construction skills, and is connected with cosmetologists willing to show youth how to do hair.
Ricky Hinton, a former supervisor at Steel Warehouse Co., will talk with principals to recruit students.
He also plans to recruit men getting out of jail who want to work.
"I've been in that situation," said Hinton.
Johnson also went to prison for five years when Toriq Jr. was 13, leaving his son without his father's guidance. He said it took at least six months to rebuild their relationship after he was released.
"I had to go through in slow motion with him because of the pain he was in while I was incarcerated," Johnson said.
But within a year of Johnson being out of prison, his son got his driver's license, a car and a job at FedEx. He also got his GED and enrolled at Chattanooga State Community College and studied to be an electrician at his father's suggestion.
"Once I got a hold to him, I asked him, 'Son, can I start off by grooming you first? Let me cut the dreads off. Let me give you a different appearance, and if people don't say you look handsome or compliment you, then we'll go back to the dreads.'
"He came back," Johnson continued. "He said, 'Man, I like this.'"
But then he got caught up selling marijuana.
"And I told him, 'Son, that ain't for everybody,'" said Johnson. "Everybody is not meant to be a hustler."