Football: Silent march planned for Shaw

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Los Angeles High players will conduct a silent march Thursday evening in memory of teammate Jamiel Shaw II, the Romans star who was fatally shot in March only three doors from his home in Arlington Heights.

Coach Hardy Williams said the Romans would don their white jerseys bearing black patches with Shaw’s number and walk the approximately 1 1/2-mile route from the high school to the site where the running back was killed, allegedly by a gang member. Williams said flowers would be placed on Shaw’s memorial and tributes would be offered by players.

‘Jamiel was everything to us,’ Williams said. ‘We can’t replace him.’

There has been an outpouring of support from the community since Shaw’s death. Michael Garvey, president of The Dumbell Man Fitness Equipment, outfitted a state-of-the-art weight room for the Romans. At Los Angeles’ scrimmage against Woodland Hills Taft last week, Toreadors players presented roses to Shaw’s parents, Jamiel and Anita. And a moment of silence is expected to be held Friday before the Romans open their season at Wilmington Banning.

When Los Angeles plays host to Washington in its home opener Oct. 3, it will play on a new donated grass field that Williams estimated cost at least $100,000. Next season, the Romans will have a new synthetic turf field made possible in part by Pete Carroll’s A Better L.A. foundation.

Williams said he wanted to thank everyone who has contributed to his program during such a difficult time and promised that the Romans would do their best to make Shaw proud this season.

‘We’re going to play with a lot of vigor and determination and we’re going to turn a lot of heads,’ he said.

--Ben Bolch

--Image by Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times