Philadelphia family spreads joy in memory of son killed by drunk driver

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia family is turning heartbreak into hope this holiday season, honoring their son who was killed by a drunk driver.

Kaylah Smith and Orlando Velez are delivering toys, winter clothes, and Walmart gift cards to several families this week. The effort is in memory of their 8-year-old son, Javier "Javi" Velez, who was killed in Absecon, New Jersey, in 2023.

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"I'm doing this because it's another way to keep Javi's name alive, Javi's name said. It's a way to see his face. It's a way to remember who he was, what happened to him," Smith said.

Police said Javi was sleeping in a parked car during a fishing trip with his father when a drunk driver veered off the road and slammed into the vehicle, killing the boy.

Edward Johnston, 25, was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this year for aggravated manslaughter.

Smith said the donations were made possible through support from friends, family and social media. Among the recipients was Liz Gross, a mother of two who lost her home in a fire in September.

"Being a mom with two kids and like the holidays and everything else it's really incredible she's able to help," Gross said.

Instead of Santa, Velez dressed as the Grinch - Javi's favorite character - to deliver the gifts. The couple is also advocating for "Javi's Law," a proposed New Jersey bill that would require drunk drivers involved in deadly crashes to be jailed immediately.

"Javi's killer got to go home that night after he killed Javi. They knew he killed Javi, and they still let him go free. He remained free for an entire year. With Javi's Law, that won't be able to happen ever again," Smith said.

For now, Smith said, giving joy to others is a part of how they cope with their loss.

"Christmas is not the same for us anymore, so we don't really have much joy for Christmas," she said. "We just try to give other people joy - the joy that we can't find anymore."

The family plans to continue giving on Tuesday. Smith estimates they'll help 16-18 families in all.