LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) — One week after a 14-year-old was shot and killed in a Louisville shopping center parking lot, his family returned to remember him and call for answers.
Jahlil Brown, 14, was shot and killed around 10 p.m. July 11 after a reported fight led to a shooting in the 700 block of Gagel Avenue, in the Cloverleaf neighborhood.
On Saturday, family and friends gathered in the rain in the same parking lot he died in to release heart-shaped balloons in his memory.
"He was sunshine. He was laughter," said Candice Tooley, Brown's aunt. "When you didn't have the laugh, he was a smile when you didn't know how to smile. He was everything to a lot of people."
Louisville Metro Police said officers heard gunfire and found two teen boys who had been shot. Brown died at the scene, and the other teenager was taken to UofL Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to witnesses at the scene, the fight reportedly began inside the skating rink before security escorted a group outside. The confrontation continued in the parking lot of the shopping center before shots were fired.
Now, a week later, Brown's family wants to know what truly happened.
"It's like a nightmare you don't wake up from," Tooley said. "...We don't have any answers, but we will."
Brown's death was one of many in a string of gun violence last weekend. While Louisville Metro's year-to-date violence dashboard shows that fatal and non-fatal shootings are down nearly 16%, Mayor Craig Greenberg acknowledged earlier this week there is still progress to be made.
"Events like last night and events that happened over the weekend show why we always have to do more," Greenberg said.
Tooley said the family is devastated. She said she hopes Brown's death makes people stop and think before reacting "in the heat of the moment."
"Even in the heat of the moment, we still have to think," Tooley said. "Because look at the consequences that you all caused, in a temporary moment. Look at the permanent damage that you all have caused to this family."
Michele Watson, manager at Outer Limits Skating Rink, released a handwritten statement saying the business was "heartbroken by this tragedy" and offered condolences to the families and everyone affected.
"This event has deeply affected our staff, our guests, and our rink family," Watson said. "We remain committed to providing a safe environment for our community and will continue to reviewing our security procedures and working with local authorities to ensure our rink remains a place where families can gather with confidence."
Meanwhile, Brown's family said they'll keep pushing for answers.
"I'm gonna find out what happened to my baby," Brown's mother said. "We gonna get more than justice."
LMPD has still not announced any suspects or arrests in connection to Brown's death.
Anyone with information in any shooting case is encouraged to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's online Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.
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