Family and classmates of 13-year-old Josiah Brackens gathered on Wednesday evening. They honored the young teen killed in a shooting. His family says they are devastated his life, marked with resilience, ended in gun violence.
New surveillance video shows Brackens walking outside of his grandmother’s home in Harvey last Thursday.
Ring video was recorded just 15 minutes before police responded to a shooting on Angus Street.
“Because that was supposed to be his friend, I’ve dropped my baby off to his house, met his mom, and I never thought he would have killed my baby,” said Darrineka Brackens, the victim’s mother.
Josiah’s mother says she believes her son was targeted and lured outside to meet up with someone he thought was a friend.
“My son, he wanted to hang with the wrong crowd. I tried to stop him from hanging with that child, the same child that killed him,” said Brackens.
According to JPSO, a 15-year-old male is in custody facing charges, including second-degree murder, juvenile in possession of a firearm, and obstruction of justice.
Family members and classmates of the 13-year-old held hands in prayer, remembering the young life taken too soon.
“This is really hard because we just lost another student last month in a car accident, so the kids are, they’re dealing with it,” said Shannon Newell, teacher at Martin Berham Charter School.
It’s another heartbreak for his mother, who already lost her other son in a house fire.
“That was my backbone when it came down to me needing help, that’s who I had…so my pain is deep…I don’t have my baby anymore,” said Brackens.
READ MORE:Mother speaks out after 13-year-old killed in Harvey shooting
