JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Family, friends and community leaders on Friday marched in memory of a Raines High School student who was shot and killed just hours after his graduation.
Rashaud Fields was a football star who graduated from Raines High and was set to attend Keiser University on a football scholarship. Just hours after his graduation, he was shot at a graduation party and died from his injuries.
At an event, called the “Rally for Rashaud,” on Friday night in the area of Raines High, loved ones gathered to remember Fields, who News4JAX was told was loved by his classmates.
The family is also hoping to get justice for Fields because no arrests have been made in this case. During the march, his mother, Yvonne Fields, made a plea to the public.
“I just want all these kids to know — stop the violence,” she said. “Keep the guns down and stop the violence.”
Coaches also attended the march, including Donovan Masline, the head football coach — heartbroken to know the graduate was prepared to do what he loved while attending college.
“Doing exactly what the coaches have asked him to do, doing exactly what his parents asked him to do,” Masline said. “And it hurts to see it just taken away from him.”
His talent, Masline said, went beyond the football field.
“You could count on every day, he was going to be consistent,” Masline said. “He was going to be determined and he was going to work his butt off.”
Masline said the school is determined to have Fields’ name live on. His number — 53 — will be painted on the field during home games.
Also on Friday, a viewing for Fields took place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Q.L. Douglas Funeral Home. His funeral will be Saturday at Philippian Community Church on New Kings Road.
Friday’s rally coincides with National Gun Violence Awareness Day, which started in 2013 when a teenage girl was accidentally shot and killed in Chicago. Her killers thought they were shooting at rival gang members.
As part of the day, people wear the color orange in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones to gun violence or survived gun violence.
Friday’s day of recognition also comes as the nation is dealing with the aftermath of several deadly mass shootings -- including the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York, and the shooting most recently at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Lawmakers are set to vote on gun reform legislation as soon as next week.