DETROIT – Friends and family members gathered Tuesday, June 4, to remember a 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed walking home from school.
The family of Elijah Reece said he was targeted walking home from East English Village Preparatory Academy because of his shoes.
Background: 16-year-old walking home from school killed over pair of shoes on Detroit’s east side
His mom said he bought a pair of $1,200 shoes from the late designer Alexander McQueen.
Elijah’s funeral was held Tuesday.
“Today his the hardest day for everybody. Our family is trying to stick together, trying to stay strong for one another,” said Seddie Carreker, Elijah’s cousin. “No one wants to go through what we are right now. The teenagers, they are killing kids and do not even know why they are killing them.”
Elijah was shot three times in broad daylight on May 22 as he walked home with a friend on Detroit’s east side. Nearly two weeks later, the person responsible has not yet been caught.
“We are letting police handle it,” Carreker said. “We do not want to rush them, they could end up letting the guys off by going too fast.”
Elijah’s parents said they have to be patient and wait for police to do their work.
The family is urging those responsible to turn themselves in and that it’s only a matter of time before police identify suspects.
“You can’t run,” Carreker said. “The city’s too small and everybody talks.”