Marcus Alexander BostonThe news of an arrest in her son's slaying brought little comfort to Vanessa Bell.
"It's hard on us," she said.
Her son, 20-year-old Quincy Bell, was gunned down Sept. 22 while driving a Toyota Camry in the 3800 block of Wilcox Boulevard. Bell continued to drive about a quarter-mile to a Kangaroo gas station at 4026 Shallowford Road. His car came to rest at a curb, where he was found riddled with bullets and slumped over.
"Quincy just had a birthday on Wednesday. He would have been 21," she said.
The arrest, she hopes, will bring more closure.
Initially, police said Bell, who was a documented Bloods gang member, was killed as a result of gang retaliation. Another gang member was slain a few days before Bell was shot.
However, Vanessa Bell said the man charged with her son's death, Marcus Boston, was someone her children grew up with.
"They all were friends. We knew [Boston] personally," she said. "I've been knowing this boy 16, 17 years. He's been to my house and everything. That's another reason it's so hard for me."
Boston reportedly called Bell's oldest brother and also spoke with Vanessa Bell. They learned the shooting was over $700.
"I offered to pay this," she said.
A woman, who is Boston's cousin, said she saw Bell the night he was killed. She told police Bell was killed after he reportedly stole a few hundred dollars in drug money from Boston. Boston later came to her after the shooting and asked to stay with her sister in Florida. Boston and a couple of other people said they "just got him," according to an arrest report.
Since Quincy Bell's death, his mother has had to lean on faith.
"God got it and it will be dealt with," she said.
Quincy Bell left behind two sons, ages 1 and 2.
"His kids miss him dearly. It's all they talk about," she said. "I miss my son so much." As of Monday afternoon, Boston was arrested on warrants for charges including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, domestic aggravated assault and unlawful use of a firearm.
Boston was charged with violating probation on previous drug convictions including possession of less than 0.5 gram of cocaine for resale.
Boston's next court date is set for Jan. 8 before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom. He remains in jail without bond.