JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 17-year-old victim of a fatal shooting Friday afternoon on West 15th Street in Jacksonville came in town from Georgia to surprise his sister for graduation, his family told News4Jax.
Loved ones are asking for anyone with information related to the death of Ramiek Young to please come forward and tell police what you know.
They describe Young as a caring, well-mannered teenager with a bright future.
“He was like the best son that anybody would want. The best nephew an aunty could have,” Young’s aunt, Shannon Fogle, said.
She said he lived with his dad in Georgia and was loving and kind.
“He was getting his grades and stuff up. He had started a job. He was doing good, about to graduate,” Fogle said. “You know what I’m saying everything was good.”
And then he came to Jacksonville to surprise his sister for graduation.
Young’s family said they don’t know why he was gunned down on West 15th Street.
Young’s mother released a statement, saying: “I miss my baby. I miss his smile. Him coming in my room bothering me and hugging me. He wasn’t a bad kid.”
Police said they found him shot multiple times on a sidewalk in Durkeeville around 2:30 p.m. Friday. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening at first but around 5 p.m. his condition worsened and he died at a hospital.
Police said a few minutes before the shooting, a ShotSpotter alert was received at another location nearby.
Neighbors say they remember hearing the shots go off and ducking for cover, describing it as another random shooting. Some of them say police stayed on the scene for hours.
Police said detectives were canvassing both areas for video and evidence but that they had no suspect information to release yet.
“Just come forward because you know, that was somebody’s son, somebody’s brother. You know?” Fogle said.
The Sheriff’s Office asked for anyone with additional information to contact police at 904-630-0500, Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS or to email JSOCrimeTips@JaxSheriff.org
Young’s mother has started a GoFundMe fundraiser, where you can donate to help the family pay for funeral expenses.
