Film Outtake: Mother Recalls Day She Saw Son's Killer

Since launching this website on Sept. 25, I've reported and shared stories about unsolved homicides and a former crack addict who turned her life around to become an inspiration to many.

I've also begun the first of two final required classes at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke. This next-to-last class is an independent study with an instructor who will guide me in pulling together the story for my short documentary film.

So far, I've amassed about 10 hours of footage that includes interviews with parents of murdered children, support groups, vigils and community responses to homicides in Durham.

Over the next several weeks, I'll work diligently to watch back and trim all of my raw footage down to about 90 minutes. I have some tough choices to make. The final cut will be a 10 to 12 minute film screened next year when I receive my certificate in video documentary arts from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke.

As I work on the film, I'll share short video excerpts here on the news blog of footage that may or may not make it in the final cut.   

In today's outtake, Mina Hampton recalls the day she crossed paths in a local fast food restaurant with the man who killed her son, Tommy. Her son was shot and killed in Durham on Feb. 19, 1994. Four men were arrested in the case; she said the shooter served about four years.

"I want him to do well … But I do not want to talk with him," said Mrs. Hampton of her son’s killer, "and I do not care to see him."