'Cherish the time you get with people': Slain boy, 12, often spoke at Topeka events

Jerel D. McGeachy Jr. was a small boy with a big voice and a lot of intelligence, says Topekan Chris Ware.

Ware recalled Thursday how 12-year-old Jerel was guest speaker for a Feb. 29 Topeka Black History Month event at which he gave a spirited, impassioned delivery of the "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech made by Martin Luther King Jr. the day before he was fatally shot in 1968.

"Man, it was intense," Ware said. "He spoke with so much confidence and power."

Ware is among those grieving the loss of Jerel, who was found dead April 1 with his parents, Domonique A. McGeachy and Jerel D. McGeachy Sr., both 38, at their home in Kansas City, Missouri.

'Cherish the time you get with people'

Initial indications are that Jerel McGeachy Sr. fatally shot his wife and son, then himself, police said.

Ware is grateful he got to spend time with Jerel, who inspired him, he wrote this week on Facebook.

"Cherish the time you get with people," Ware wrote.

Jerel D. McGeachy Jr. spoke at Topeka Juneteenth event

Photos Jerel posted on Facebook showed him serving as keynote speaker Feb. 29 for a Black History Month event held at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park, 1515 S.E. Monroe.

“As Black History Month 2024 draws to a close, I express my gratitude to Chris Ware for the privilege of being a keynote speaker at such an esteemed edifice," he wrote.

The event was put on by the Monroe Neighborhood Improvement Association, for which Ware is vice president.

Ware also maintains an event and artist management company called Warehouzz Management.

'I promise I will guide youth in your honor'

Warehouzz Management helped plan a Topeka Juneteenth celebration at which Jerel spoke last year, Ware said.

Jerel has also made a speaking appearance at a Topeka church and spoken at various events elsewhere, he said.

"That guy was just so special," Ware said. "He was just so bright."

Jerel particularly enjoyed visiting the Brown National Historic Park, he said.

Ware, who owns horses, said he and Jerel had agreed that Jerel would teach Ware to be an effective public speaker and Ware would teach Jerel about horses, including how to ride.

Ware wrote this week on Facebook, "I never got to uphold my side of the deal, but I promise I will guide youth in your honor."

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Boy killed in Kansas City spoke at Topeka Black History Month event