Family of Murdered Flanders Student Keeps Memory Alive

Three months after he was shot and killed by armed intruders during a home invasion in Flanders, the family of Demitri Hampton, 21, is keeping his memory alive.

Focusing on the positive, Jennifer Nicole Davis, Hampton's sister, said, helps soothe shattered hearts. To that end, Hampton's family have created the "DQH Memorial Scholarship Fund," to help other bright young students, like Hampton, continue their educations.

"The DQH scholarship was started by my mom," Davis said. "Demitri was a student at Suffolk County Community College. He was very motivated to let kids know if he could do it, everyone else could, too. He wanted to spread awareness about getting into college."

Despite his dreams for a bright future, Hampton's life ended on a cold February night when he died at the hands gunmen who burst into the Flanders residence. "Everything got cut short," Davis said. "We wanted to keep his dreams alive."

The scholarship fund, she said, will benefit two students each year who demonstrate financial need. "This is just my mom's way of giving back on behalf of my brother," Davis said. "Some kids just can't afford to go to college and need a little help."

The scholarships, which can be used toward Suffolk County Community College, Davis said, will be awarded in June.

Customers who eat at Wendy's in Riverhead on Thursday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. will have a portion of the proceeds donated to the DQH Memorial Scholarship Fund.

A fundraiser will also be held on May 18 at Ludlam Park from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. The event will feature a 3 on 3 basketball tournament; $15 per team, as well as food, music, raffles, and activities. Proceeds from the event will benefit the DQH Memorial Scholarship Fund. To sign up for the basketball tournament, call 516-355-8899 or email DQHScholarshipFund@gmail.com.

Although three months have passed since the tragic night when Davis lost Hampton, whom she called her "baby brother," time has not softened the blow to their family, she said.

"It doesn't get easier," she said. "There's not a day that I don't say his name. I miss my little brother every day."

She and her mother, Davis said, recall things Hampton liked to do, things he said.

Faith, Davis said, has carried them through the dark days. "We're very religious; we're Christian," she said. "This is something we just have to deal with. I try to stay focused. I have a child and I'm focused on my son and my family, my friends and my work. But I definitely miss my brother. I miss him every day."

His family, Davis said, wants to keep the flame of her brother's memory burning bright -- and the memories of his life alive. "I don't want Demitri to be a victim," she said. "I want to keep his legacy alive -- he was a hero."

She added, "He was a good kid. We're going to keep him alive in our hearts through these kinds of activities."

Davis thanked the scores of family and friends who have stepped up to offer support and help. "We are very thankful from the bottom of our hearts," said. "There has been such an outpouring."

While nothing can take away the pain her family is going through, Davis said having friends and family to offer love and support "takes the sting off. It lightens the load a little."

The intruders who shot her brother, Davis said, have not been caught. "It does get frustrating," she said. "I just have to keep praying and hope that justice gets served. Justice will get served, because things like this don't happen to good people with nothing happening. They will be caught -- because Demitri didn't deserve to have his life taken."

Her brother, she said, "will always be the baby of the family."

His family, Davis said, holds Hampton's memory close. "I just keep him in my mind and heart," she said.