TEMPLE HILLS, Md. — Juanita Agnew had always loved her home along Jameson Street in Temple Hills. But as she stood on her front lawn Friday afternoon, she said things had changed, ever since her son was shot and killed while raking leaves on that same lawn nearly 11 months ago.
"It's not the same," she said. "Home doesn't feel like home. I'm paranoid of every car that passes. And it's just a void."
Her son, 13-year-old Jayz Agnew, was shot and killed in November 2022, in a shooting that shocked the Prince George's community. He was shot while raking leaves on the front lawn. All this time later, there are still no arrests.
“He was shot at home," Juanita said. "Five o'clock in the afternoon. So absolutely without a doubt, if we had cameras or if our neighbors had cameras recording that day, we would have known by now who shot Jayz."
This realization, sent Juanita on a mission to increase the number of surveillance cameras across Prince George's County. At her son's vigil, she connected with Councilmember Krystal Oriadha, and floated the idea of a voucher program for security cameras.
"It's one of the things his mother asked me to do," said Oriadha. "And it was something I could do."
In March, Oriadha oversaw the passing of legislation that provided vouchers or rebates to offset the cost of security cameras in high-priority areas in the county. The vouchers would be worth up to $200 in cameras and up to $100 in security camera subscriptions. This law was passed in honor of Jayz.
But seven months later, the program has still not been rolled out, which is why Oriadha announced an interim plan. The councilmember announced that her office is partnering with a non-profit called Community on the Frontlines, to offer free security cameras to District 7 neighbors.
"It mattered to me so much because it was something that could give her peace," Oriadha said. "To do this and to do it in memory of her son.”
Applicants’ property must be within District 7 to apply. Applications are now being accepted. Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are available here.
As for Juanita, she said she's just hopeful, these cameras can help other families find closure.
"I felt like it was something I had to do," she said. "I had to put my pain into purpose and make something positive out of this.”
WUSA9 reached out to the Office of the County Executive to find out why the program hasn't begun and received the following statement:
“Because funding is limited, the Police Department worked to identify priority areas in the County. Now that those are identified, we are working with the appropriate agencies to put the infrastructure in place to roll out the program to the public.”
RELATED: Prince George's County Council pushes for increased surveillance cameras in honor of Jayz Agnew