SUMTER, S.C. — Dozens of local groups gathered to share resources as a way of honoring a local family and spreading awareness for child abuse.
Andre Rush has had a nightmare year following the death of his 11-year-old daughter, Ava, in March of 2023. She was one of five people killed in a murder-suicide.
According to law enforcement, Ava's stepfather, 43-year-old Charles Slacks Jr., killed her and her two brothers, 5-year-old Aayden and 6-year-old Aason. Another 38-year-old man was also shot and killed in the home before Slacks killed himself.
"The last year has been pretty rough, I'm not going to lie about that. We all go through trials and tribulations," Rush said. "What happened was tragic - extremely - and one of the things that I got from it was to give back."
He was among the many who came to Sumter's Durant Children's Center for the "heart2heart" Community Fair. The fair brought out more than a dozen booths from local groups spreading awareness of Child Abuse Awareness Month.
Also celebrated this week was the unveiling of a new memorial wall for three victims that Soriah McClendon decorated. McClendon, a friend of the children's mother, said she remembers seeing them grow up.
"I used to braid [Ava's] hair when she was a young toddler, and I would make her hair pretty and put little beads and her little flowers, and she would be such a pretty girl," she said. "And that was my friend, and they were my friends, and their mother is my friend and a mentor, and she's always been a mentor to me."
In the wake of the children's deaths, a nonprofit called "A to the Third Power" was formed. McClendon said the goal is to spread love and help those in the community in honor of the three kids.
"We have to heal these things, heal internally, heal ourselves, and be surrounded by love, by the same like minds, by the same like-hearted people, building community," she said.
Rush said he hopes this tragedy can be a learning experience for everyone.
"The community came together; they come together not just a little bit, not just all together, but they came together overwhelmingly," he said. "Not only here in Sumter, but the ones that were surrounding and supporting others, they come together and give 100%, and that's what we all need. And I hope that people see this, and they take a note from this community."