LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The family of Mickel Kimbley has announced funeral arrangements for their son, who was found beaten in the Portland neighborhood last Saturday night. He died on Tuesday.
Community activist Christopher 2X says the visitation and funeral for Kimbley will be Thursday, October 25. The visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. that day at the Bethel Baptist Church on Garland Ave., and will be followed by the funeral at 11.
Kimbley had been in critical condition, but the family on Tuesday decided to take him off life support.
They still have many questions they want answered. Shawn Grady returned to the Portland alleyway where his older brother, Mickel Kimbley, was found beaten and bleeding late Saturday. He found one last memento -- his brother's cigarette.
"I just wanted to come back and just try to see if I could feel my brother's presence."
Grady believes whoever savagely beat his brother and left him for dead was no stranger.
"I know my brother. I know they type of thinking he does. He would not walk back here at a certain time of night. So he had to be lured back here and set up," said Grady.
Kimbley had been in critical condition, until his family made the difficult decision to remove him from life support and donate his organs.
"I believe Mickel wanted to donate his organs because it's the kind of character that he had; the kind of heart that he had to help people. He would want someone to live," said Kimbley's mother, Erica Grady.
Kimbley's family is urging his killer, or killers, to turn themselves in; to face justice and, interestingly, forgiveness.
"Justice will be heard. For the people that did this to my son, or whoever did this to my son, I forgive you because God has already forgiven you, so I have to say I forgive you as well," said Erica Grady.
For Shawn Grady, forgiveness may come. But he also needs answers.
"I want to know why he was done like that. Was it a personal problem. I'm confused. I'm just confused. He didn't deserve to be done like that."
Metro police say their assault investigation has now been upgraded to homicide. Right now, they have no suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call the anonymous LMPD crime tip line at 574-LMPD (574-5673).
Mickel Kimbley's mother says she has set up a fund for funeral expenses. It's called the Mickel Kimbley Sr. Fund, and people can donate at any PNC Branch.
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Mickel Kimbley (source: family photo)
