LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Friends, family and teachers gathered Friday to remember 15-year-old Da'Jon Hayes-Burr, whose life was cut short by gun violence in Louisville's Shawnee neighborhood.
Hayes-Burr was killed July 25. A 14-year-old boy has been charged with his murder.
At the funeral, loved ones remembered a teenager known for putting others before himself.
Just months before his death, Hayes-Burr was recognized for doing exactly that.
During Thunder Over Louisville in April, Hayes-Burr stepped in when a 12-year-old girl was being targeted by a man near Waterfront Park. Hayes-Burr and several other boys put themselves between the girl and the man.
Hayes-Burr was stabbed during the confrontation but survived.
His actions later earned him a Medal of Honor and a bravery plaque from Louisville Metro Council.
Just three months later, his life ended in a shooting.
Louisville Metro Police said officers responded to a shooting in the 3800 block of Alford Avenue on July 25. Hayes-Burr was taken to UofL Hospital, where he died.
His family mourned a 15-year-old with so much life ahead of him. Teachers also remembered him as a kind, caring and loving student who made an impact on those around him.
The 12-year-old girl Hayes-Burr protected during Thunder Over Louisville was at the funeral.
After the stabbing, she made Hayes-Burr a bracelet to thank him for helping her. She never got the chance to give it to him.
Instead, after Hayes-Burr was killed, she held onto the bracelet until Friday, when she presented it to his mother at the funeral.
For Hayes-Burr's family, it was a final reminder of the courage he showed and the life he changed.
A GoFundMe was set up to help his family with funeral costs.
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