MT. IRON, MN– On the intersection of Falcon Ave and Cardinal St. in Mountain Iron is a memorial devoted to Estavon Elioff, who was fatally shot by St. Louis County Sheriff’s Deputies final December.
The positioning, as soon as residence to items, flowers, and lights continues to be defaced.
Seraphia Gravelle is the co-founder of Voices for Ethnic and Multicultural Consciousness (VEMA), which arrange the location.
She stated the memorial is vital to these nonetheless grieving the lack of Elioff, who was Hispanic.
“I imagine that holding this memorial intact and respecting that it is there reveals individuals, particularly within the Hispanic neighborhood, that their life does matter to somebody right here,” stated Gravelle.
Neighborhood activists say they’ll proceed to revive the memorial till they discover a extra everlasting residence to recollect Elioff.
Now, they’re simply asking whoever took his private belongings to return them as quickly as doable.
Issues taken embody Elioff’s commencement cap and sash, teddy bear, and photographs of him. This stuff are issues that Gravelle stated signified him and celebrated his life.
Gravelle hopes that the memorial sends a message that vandals will not maintain them from celebrating a life misplaced.
“This is likely one of the methods we’re telling all the younger individuals on this neighborhood, all the Hispanic individuals on this neighborhood, that their life issues, and we’re not going to cease saying it,” stated Gravelle.
On December fifth, 2020, 19-year-old Estavon Elioff was shot and killed in Mountain Iron by St. Louis County Sheriff’s Deputies.
Elioff, from close by Virginia, was a suspect in a shoplifting incident.
When he was approached by officers, a state report reveals he fled right into a wooded space.
Investigators say that is the place he refused instructions to give up, then pulled out a knife that officers mistook for a gun.
Elioff was shot 5 occasions and died.
After a prolonged overview, St. Louis County Lawyer Mark Rubin cleared the deputies of any wrongdoing calling the capturing justified.
We reached out to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Workplace and Mountain Iron Police for an interview however didn’t hear again.
VEMA stated they are going to be protesting Monday at Duluth Metropolis corridor, calling for justice in Elioff’s case.
