On a fall day in October, Rhonda Brewster unveiled a granite stone in front of family and friends, which now sits in Johnston Memorial Park in honor of her late son.

The stone reads “in memory of who was Dillon Viens, son of Rhonda and David, born and raised in Johnston.”

“Dillon was a loving child, very active in his community; he was a Boy Scout, he volunteered at the library, frequented this park many times with his BMX, fishing with his friends, with his father,” said his mother, Rhonda Brewster.

“We were always here, just being a part of the neighborhood and the community we grew up in,” she said. “A very loved child by many people in the community and outside of the community.”

Dillon Viens, who would have been 19 years old this year, died in February of 2022 when he was shot and killed at a home on Cedar Street.

He was a ninth grader at William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School in Lincoln.

Brewster has been without her son for over 900 days, and she said she often sits in his room with his memorabilia that is still untouched, just to feel close to him.

“Sometimes as a mom, I go in there and I just lay down so I can get his scent. You know? I miss my son. That was my firstborn,” she said.

“His sister doesn’t have a best friend anymore,” she added.

His sister, Raquell, could not even express her love for her brother, as she had tears form up in her eyes.

Brewster lamented to her family and friends who gathered in honor of Dillon Saturday afternoon, that it was comforting that they receive constant love and support, even two years later.

“And that they, too, want to keep Dillon’s name alive and make sure that justice is served,” she said.

Brewster said she often called her son her “sunshine,” which was reflected in the fall day, as the sun shined down on his granite stone, signs on the fence reading “Justice 4 Dillon Viens.”

Vein’s death was initially ruled accidental by officials. Last year, however, his close friend, then a juvenile, was charged in connection to Dillon’s death and is now facing manslaughter charges.

The homeowner, Marios Kirios, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor as a result of his unsecured firearm being used in Veins’ death. He was recently hit with additional charges.

Brewster said her family now faces the challenge of sitting and waiting for the juvenile’s trial, while he goes through numerous court proceedings that her family can’t even sit in.

“We’re just, as a family, waiting to be able to tell our voice and be a voice for Dillon, because no one else can describe Dillon or say who Dillon was outside of his family,” she added.

After their son’s death, Rhonda and David Viens, Dillon’s father, fought tirelessly for legislation that would hold those criminally responsible for not having their guns secured, called Dillon’s Law.

The legislation was sponsored by Johnston State Rep. Deb Fellela, who Brewster said has been at the forefront of advocating for her family.

Viens’ friends and family visited the Rhode Island State House to deliver testimony on legislation.

This summer, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee officially signed the Safe Storage Act into law.

The next step for Brewster’s family now, she said, is renaming the law in her son’s honor and fighting for even tougher gun safety laws.

The Safe Storage of Firearms law mandates that firearms be stored in secured or locked containers or be equipped with a tamper-resistant lock or other safety device, with fines of up to $250 for first offense, $1,000 for second, and fines and/or potential imprisonment of up to six months for a third violation.

More severe fines and potential prison sentences may be imposed upon those who do not secure firearms if a child or someone prohibited from possessing a firearm gains access, according to the law.

Brewster said their next court date is set for October, facing the challenge of having a new judge catch up on the facts of the case.

“You know in the instance of such a tragedy, Dillon’s been gone for two and a half years and it's tough when the news broadcasts it and then it dies down,” she said. “Like I said, my point is just to keep it going, keep it alive, and just let people know that justice hasn't been served. We’re still waiting.”

Brewster said if anyone wants to donate in honor of Dillon, they can do so by donating to Boy Scouts Troop 20 in Johnston in his memory.