Who is victim in Taunton homicide? Brockton 17-year-old who leaves behind 'unborn son'

TAUNTON — The mother of a Taunton homicide suspect says her son and the victim were friends.

Izzy Gendraw, the mother of suspect Kareem Gendraw, told the Taunton Daily Gazette on Wednesday that her son and victim Khamitri Cole of Brockton had been friends and that "they met in school together."

Kareem Gendraw, who is accused of murdering 17-year-old Khamitri Cole in Taunton , was ordered held without bail at his arraignment Wednesday in Taunton District Court.

Gendraw pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and carrying an illegal firearm.

The judge also revoked Gendraw's bail on a previous court case from July 2024 involving charges of breaking and entering and larceny.

Izzy Gendraw said that she agreed with the judge's decision to hold her son without bail because she fears retaliation against her son.

"The judge made a great decision by keeping him here because she's keeping him safe," she said. "Right now, I would rather have a son behind bars than have him dead."

Who is the victim, Khamitri Cole?

According to the Bristol County County District Attorney's Office, Cole was a 17-year-old Brockton resident. Cole's mother created a gofundme to raise money for funeral expenses .

The GoFundMe says Cole "leaves behind his unborn son." Cole's girlfriend, Gretchen Hernandez, attended the arraignment.

The GoFundMe says, "My son Khamitri was a smart, loving, compassionate kid who would give you the shirt off his back, and shoes off his feet."

"Khamitri has left behind his twin brother as well as 6 other siblings older and younger. He also has many nieces and nephews that looked up to him."

Neighbors react Taunton street where homicide occurred normally 'real quiet,' neighbors say

What was the motive?

No information about a possible motive for the killing was shared at the arraignment. The case file is currently impounded on the order of a judge.

What happened on night of killing

At around 12:25 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, Taunton Police responded to 351 Lothrop St. after receiving a 911 call regarding a person being shot inside the mobile home at that address, the DA's office said.

First responders located the victim, who was later identified as Khamitri Cole, the DA's office said. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting at 12:45 a.m.

Suspect's prior charges

Before Kareem Gendraw was arrested and charged for allegedly murdering 17-year-old Khamitri Cole , he had been released on bail for charges that included breaking and entering and larceny, court records show.

Easton Police Det. Brian Rooney wrote, in a police narrative from one of Gendraw's court cases, that he had "probable cause to believe Gendraw broke and entered into two vehicles that were in the driveway of [a specific address]. Rooney also said that "Gendraw in fact used [someone's] stolen credit card at Gulf Oil, Shaws Supermarket and Royal Fuel." The incidents occurred in May 2024, according to court records.

Gendraw was arraigned on July 25, 2024, where he plead not guilty to two counts of breaking and entering, two counts of larceny, and one count of conspiracy. Gendraw was then released on bail. Typically, a condition of bail is that a suspect will not commit additional crimes while out on bail. If those conditions are violated, a judge can revoke the bail.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Who is victim in Taunton homicide? Brockton 17-year-old who leaves behind 'unborn son'