What You Didn't Know About Marilyn Mosby

After she announced earlier this month that six officers would be charged for their alleged involvement the death of Freddie Gray, state's attorney Marilyn Mosby suddenly found herself on a national stage. Gray died April 19 after suffering a spinal cord injury while in police custody. Now that all six officers have been indicted by a grand jury, the focus on Mosby is likely to intensify. She's a relative newcomer even to her office, elected the Baltimore state's attorney just last November, with the distinction of being the youngest top prosecutor in a major U.S. city at age 35. The mother of two pledged when she took office in January that she would seek justice on behalf of Baltimore's black community, NBC News reported.

As a black woman who understands just how much the criminal justice system disproportionately affects communities of color, I will seek justice on your behalf.

She is married to Baltimore City Councilor Nick Mosby, and comes from a family with a long tradition in law enforcement. But there are a few things you might not have known about Marilyn Mosby, which offer some insights into how she became an advocate for justice and upholding the law.

Her Teenage Cousin Died In A Shooting

When she was 14 years old, according to The Boston Globe, Mosby's cousin Diron Spence, who was 17 at the time, was shot and killed by another 17-year-old in an apparent case of mistaken identity. Mosby told the Globe earlier this month that her cousin was like a brother to her, and the case inspired her career in law enforcement.

I wanted to know how could we have gotten to that 17-year-old and stop him before he picked up that gun. That’s what inspired me to become a prosecutor.

She Comes From A Family Of Police Officers

Mosby's grandfather, Prescott R. Thompson Sr., was a Boston police officer, and one of the founding members of the black officer's association, now called the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, according to Boston.com. Tragically, Thompson was blinded in one eye during an accident on the job. He died earlier this year, Boston.com reported.

She Was Raised By A Single Mother And Grandparents

Mosby's mother Linda Thompson, was 17 when Mosby was born, according to the Globe, and so Thompson's parents helped raise their granddaughter. She told the Globe she and her mother "grew up like sisters." Linda Thompson also is a retired Boston police officer.

In the months to come, it's almost certain we'll learn more about Marilyn Mosby, as the scrutiny intensifies, and she prosecutes what could very well be the biggest case of her career less than a year into her first term.

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