DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A 15-year-old boy who was one of two people fatally shot after a funeral in Riviera Beach was a student athlete at a Broward County school, his mother and school district officials said.
According to Riviera Beach Police, Terrance Jackson and a man were fatally struck Saturday afternoon near Victory City Church, where a funeral had just finished.
Officials with Broward County Public Schools said the teen was a 10th grader at Deerfield Beach High School who played defensive end on the football team.
Speaking with 7News Sunday night, his mother, Tronicia Jackson, said she is confused as why her son was targeted at her own father’s funeral.
“My baby didn’t do anything. He never hung out on the street. He never ran with the crowd,” she said. “My baby played football, went to school and played video games all the time. He was never that type of kid. All he kept talking about last week was, ‘Coach is talking to a lot of students with other coaches from other colleges. Maybe this week will be my week to get an offer.'”
The other deceased victim was a 47-year-old man, police said.
Authorities said an argument broke out at the service before shots were fired. They believe the shooting possibly stemmed from a family dispute.
Jackson said her son would have turned 16 on Wednesday and shared the details surrounding the final moments of his life.
“He just looked at me and I said, ‘Terrance just breathe, OK? Just breathe Terrance. Help is on the way. Just breathe Terrance,'” said Jackson. “He shook his head OK. I said, ‘Mommy loves you, just breathe OK?’ He turned to the side and looked back at me and he didn’t move any more.”
Students are also dealing with the loss of their classmate as they returned to school on Monday morning.
“He was really funny, very energetic and it’s very depressing,” said one student.
“Out of nowhere, it’s just disbelief,” said another student. “Especially someone like him, you’d never think it would be him.”
Counselors will be on the school’s campus to assist the community with the loss of their fellow student. Just a short time ago, the Deerfield Beach High School community mourned the loss of another student and football star, Bryce Gowdy, who committed suicide in December.
“I want justice,” said Jackson. “This was a senseless murder. This man shot my son for no reason.”
Police continue to investigate the motive behind the incident.
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