DETROIT -- The family of a 17-year-old Denby Tech student who died from a stray shotgun blast on New Year's Eve is held a candlelight vigil Thursday night.

Police said Jerry Croone, 17, was accidentally shot by his 16-year-old friend as they were getting ready to leave a New Year's Eve party around 11:30 p.m.

The 16-year-old suspect turned himself in to police on Wednesday.

Police told Croone's family that friends were firing celebratory shots outside of a New Year's Eve house party when the 16-year-old friend asked Croone, who was standing outside of his car, for a ride home.

Police said that Croone told the teen he would only give him a ride home if he unloaded his shotgun.

"He told him, you're not getting in my car with a loaded gun. Unload the gun. The gun jammed… and hit my nephew," said Croone's aunt Latonya Newson.

The 16-year-old accidentally fired a shot at Croone while he was handling the gun, said police.

Croone's friends drove him to St. John Hospital, where he later died.

Croone's family is held a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. where Croone was shot, at a home near Courville and Dutchess streets.

His teacher said Croone was a football star and the class homecoming king at Denby Tech.

An investigation continues as police search for the shotgun.

Investigators and Croone's family want to know why an adult would give a child access to a gun.

Police said if the child got the gun from an adult, the adult could face charges.