Dre Luna

She told me to put my hands on my head and began searching me for weapons.

I was scared but I didn’t run. I knew I had a gun and if I made the wrong move I would have been shot.

Dre Luna's avatar
Dre Luna
Feb 09, 2026
∙ Paid

This memoir is a collection of memories, stories, and experiences that have shaped my transformation from a 15 year old boy navigating life and death in the streets of my hometown, to finding hope in a maximum security adult prison with a life without parole sentence, and building a life of freedom beyond prison walls. My sincerest hope and intention is that you will connect with the shared human experience of overcoming your circumstances and worst mistakes to become the person you were always meant to be.

Chapter 2 - Part 2

As time went on, things only got worse. I knew that I was under investigation, but aside from that, my mental health was suffering. During the day I would be in sort of a trance just going through the motions of getting through the day. I also had a lot of people who were once friends begin to turn on me. I remember texting a female friend around that time and her response was f*** you. I will pray for you. I knew a lot of people felt that way and I didn’t blame them. They didn’t know the truth of what actually happened and there was no way for me to come out and say that I didn’t mean to shoot him without putting myself in jeopardy. I felt horrible but I wasn’t going to make a confession and throw myself at the mercy of the criminal justice system.

A couple of police cars parked in a parking lot
Photo by Martin Podsiad on Unsplash

Thank you for your interest in reading ‘15 Facing Life.’ I was inspired to share my story for two reasons. First, to highlight the shared humanity of individuals who are incarcerated that transcends prison walls and extreme sentences. Second, to advocate for juvenile and criminal justice reform with a belief in the healing power of second chances. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber. A portion of all paid subscriptions will go to supporting violence prevention and justice reform organizations. The remainder will be used to support my son through education and extra-curricular activities. *New Posts Every Monday

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2026 Dre Luna · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture