Purple Ball to be held in Bianca Roberson's memory

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WTXF) - How would you grieve the violent death of your teenage daughter? One local man has found himself confronting that question for the past 11 months.

His daughter was the victim of an alleged road rage murder that shook the community. Now, he's preparing for the one year anniversary of her death with a very special event.

As Rodney Roberson walks through Seafarers Union Hall in South Philadelphia, past the poster of his murdered daughter and the donation jar for her foundation, he reflects on the past year.

"Some days I cry worse than others and some days--I'm okay," he told FOX 29's Bruce Gordon. "But I'm still going through it."

Eighteen-year-old Bianca Roberson had just graduated West Chester Rustin High School in June 2017 when she was shot to death in an alleged road rage case that stunned the region.

Prosecutors say David Desper, of Delaware County, fired the fatal shot from his vehicle to her's during a dispute over merging on southbound Route 100 near 202.

MORE: Community remembers teen killed in road rage shooting | Road rage suspect waives formal arraignment

Authorities initially thought the teen had perished in a single car crash, only to discover she lost control of her vehicle after being shot.

Her father's reaction to that stunning news?

"Tears, hurt, pain that somebody took my innocent baby's life," he said.

In the months that followed, Bianca's parents have turned their pain into purpose.

They've advocated for gun control and safe driving . S igns are now posted near the murder scene urging drivers to 'Merge with Mercy.'

They've raised scholarship money at Rustin High, and a bench in Bianca's honor was donated to the school just this week.

Rodney Roberson is also spending his days planning for the Purple Ball, so-named for his daughter's favorite color.

The West Chester event is set for June 28 , the one year anniversary of Bianca's murder. The event will include food, drinks, music and dancing, with proceeds going to support scholarships at Jacksonville University, her chosen college.

These are busy times for Rodney Roberson. Busy by design.

"What I'm doing now, it helps me out," he said. "It helps me to stay alive. It really does. I'm glad I'm not just sitting around and crying and moping. I'm glad that I'm up and about, trying to do something."

For more information about the Purple Ball, see here.