More than 200 people gathered at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield Saturday to honor the life of Pierre Damas Bel.
The 20-year-old Haitian immigrant died by suicide on Aug. 31, 2026. He lived in Springfield with his father, step mother and siblings.
Pastors and other speakers urged Haitians and non-Haitians in the audience to continue surrounding the Bel family with support. They also asked for everyone to treat each other with human dignity and to honor each other as God's children.
"Weep, but do not lose hope," Rev. Carl Ruby said. "Mourn, but remember God is near."
In 2024, Bel and his family came to the U.S. after fleeing gang led violence in his hometown of Tiburon, Haiti. Ruby described it a one of the worst massacres in Haiti in the past 15 years.
"They're a strong people who are survivors and I have the deepest of respect for them," Ruby said.
Bel was in the U.S. legally under Temporary Protected Status. He also had applied for asylum.
This year, he graduated from Springfield High School, began studying neuroscience at Wright State University, was a member of ROTC, worked at Texas Roadhouse and was a passionate soccer player.
"Pierre Damas Bel deserves to be remembered for more than the tragedy that ended his earthly journey," Ruby said.
His friend Yola Lamarre remembered Bel as her adopted little brother, and recalled how hard he worked at soccer practice and ROTC, how he wanted to be a doctor to help people and eventually to build a hospital in Haiti.
"Pierre's legacy shows us that true patriotism is found in grit, it's found in passion, humility, honor, and kindness," stressed Lamarre. "Pierre's legacy leaves a mark and how the criminalization of Haitian immigrants can be an unnecessary death sentence." "Hate disguises itself as a wicked judge that justifies dehumanization and decides who gets to be American," said Lamarre. She looked kindly upon Bel's vibrantly decorated casket. "With a decorated legacy and courage to overcome multiple obstacles, it still wasn't enough."
After losing TPS, Bel was required to wear a GPS ankle monitor, part of the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to track non-U.S. citizen Haitian immigrants in the United States.
In July, he told friends and posted on social media about feeling depressed and upset because he had to wear the monitor.
"I didn’t come here to commit a crime or hurt anyone. Yet now I’m walking through the streets of the United States with a GPS monitor on my leg, carrying a feeling of shame and humiliation that I never imagined I would experience," he wrote.
Since this incident, the Department of Homeland Security appears to have been less aggressive in requiring Haitian immigrants to wear ankle monitors. Instead, they are requiring these individuals to use a DHS app on their cell phone.
Gov. Mike Dewine along with Springfield Mayor Rob Rue attended the service. DeWine said DHS’s immigration policy is flawed.
"This policy that we don't need people like Pierre in this country is wrong," said DeWine. "We need people like this. We've always needed people who wanna work, who are smart, who wanna be part of this country."
According to DeWine, DHS does not inform his office about their activities in the city nor across Ohio.
The Springfield Haitian Support Center reports DHS is now monitoring immigrants through an app on their phone.Meanwhile Pastor Carl Ruby assured the city’s Haitians, the community supports them.
"May Pierre Demas’ death start a movement of justice," proclaimed Ruby. "May it teach us to live together as brothers and sisters, as intended by our gracious creator."
