CNN Profiles - Darran Simon - Senior Writer, CNN Digital - CNN

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How Botham Jean's mother is preparing to face the former police officer who killed her son
By Darran Simon, CNN Edited by Braden Goyette, CNN Photographs by Allison V. Smith for CNN
Seven months after an off-duty Dallas police officer shot Allison Jean's son, Botham, dead in his apartment, her attorney called with a warning: the 911 call capturing Botham's last moments was going to be played on the evening news.

When African Americans are killed by police, these lawyers get a phone call
By Darran Simon, CNN Edited by Braden Goyette, CNN Photographs by John Nowak, CNN
Civil rights attorney L. Chris Stewart was sitting in church in Atlanta on an April Sunday in 2015 when he received a Facebook message with a news article and a plea from a friend. A police officer had killed her cousin, Walter Scott, and she needed help.

Their church was burning. They linked arms and prayed
By Darran Simon, CNN Video by Lacey Russell, CNN Photographs by Edmund D. Fountain for CNN
Ronald Milburn smelled the smoke four miles away as he drove to Greater Union Baptist Church.

Botham Jean's brother hugs the former police officer who killed him
By Darran Simon, CNN
His voice cracking on the witness stand, Brandt Jean turned to the judge and asked to hug the woman who killed his brother.

Talladega College band on inauguration: 'Forget the politics... We are musicians'
By Darran Simon, CNN
Alex Liddell Jr. sang an Al Green song as he sorted through recently dry-cleaned uniforms -- deep crimson with Carolina blue accents -- for his marching band's biggest performance ever.

Linda lost her son in Parkland. Kelsey lost her favorite teacher. But he still brought them together
By Darran Simon, CNN
When a gunman opened fire in her Parkland, Florida, high school in February, Kelsey Friend huddled in a classroom while her favorite teacher was shot feet away. Scott Beigel saved her life, she said -- he unlocked the door of the room to let her hide inside. He didn't make it in himself.

A college essay she never let go
By Darran Simon, CNN
Erin Thompson typed furiously, unleashing a torrent of painful memories onto the page.

The new face of Mother Emanuel
By Darran Simon, CNN
The young pastor stood in a house filled with mourners ready to minister. His parishioner had been strangled, her body dumped.

Praying for justice in Charleston
By Darran Simon, CNN
Deacon Thad Miller closed his barbershop for the evening and sat in a worn leather chair by the front window. He was exhausted. Not just by the day's work, but also the topic of conversation gripping his city.

The opioid epidemic is so bad that librarians are learning how to treat overdoses
By Darran Simon, CNN Photographs by Michelle Gustafson for CNN
A crowd hovered over the man lying on the grass as his skin turned purple. Chera Kowalski crouched next to his limp body, a small syringe in her gloved hand.