Dozens gather to honor Raleigh Teen killed at accidental shootings :: wral.com

Family and friends gathered on Saturday to honor the life of a teenager Raleigh killed a week earlier.

Over 200 people have honored Clarence Kelly’s life at John Chavis Memorial Park.

On Saturday, March 8, the police responded to the reports of a shot that morning, to an apartments complex on the road to Buck Jones. They transported the victim, identified later as Kelly, to the hospital with wounds threatening.

Kelly, 17, died on Friday because of his wounds.

Kelly’s mother, Diesha Patterson, described her son as happy and a young man who liked to dance and speak.

“We were only together two days ago,” she said. “I would never have thought it would have been the last two days I spent with my son.”

Those present wore shirts embedded with photos with Kelly since he was a child and shared memories of his laugh and his love for basketball.

“Even though I lost, he was a happy child,” said a person.

Raleigh police said they are investigating the shot as an accident and that there will be no accusations.

Many have said that there are more questions left after his death, and community activists said they should not be another reduced life.

Some of the groups present were Katch the Kite Youth Outreach, who were trying to encourage young people to channel their pain for purpose.

“If we cannot be safe, we cannot be free,” some activists have chanted.

Katch the Kite offers peer support and conflict resolutions. The group will hold two discussions for teenagers in the coming weeks.

They will take place on Tuesday, March 18 and April 1 at the Teen Saint Monica center, between 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm