JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother of the 13-year-old killed in a Saturday night drive-by shooting in Northwest Jacksonville has released the name of her son.
The 13-year-old’s mother, Chantel Brown, said their home hasn’t been the same since his death.
Prince Holland was riding in an SUV with four others after leaving football tryouts when someone pulled up to the intersection of Moncrief Road West and Kings Road and opened fire on the vehicle.
Holland was the youngest of eight kids. His family remembered him as a “good kid” and an entrepreneur who was on the honor roll at school.
“He went to church every Sunday. He played sports. He took the other kids to play sports so they wouldn’t be out here doing drugs, smoking and being in gangs,” Brown said.
Holland died as a result of his injuries. The 21-year-old driver and an 11-year-old boy were also struck, but News4JAX has learned that they are expected to survive. The other two boys, ages 14 and 15, were uninjured.
The family said he would come home from school every day and cut all of his neighbors’ grass.
Brown said a neighbor purchased a riding lawnmower for Holland because he did so well with his yard work and was using a push lawnmower.
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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, local organizations and community members have expressed outrage toward the senseless gun violence around Jacksonville, especially affecting the youth.
Pastor Glenn Forman Jr. at Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church said change is needed. Forman’s daughter and Holland were classmates at school and friends.
“My heart is breaking. To know now another parent has to look at their child to tell them goodbye when they were just looking to tell them good morning,” Forman said.
Forman said, the last time he spoke with Holland, the pastor told him he would see the teen on Monday.
“Our kids are losing their lives behind senseless violence, behind stupidity. Behind stuff that a lot of times they don’t even know they’re involved in,” Forman said.
Brown made a plea to the community for someone to speak up so justice can be served.
“Y’all tell it! Everybody wants to be quiet. What if it was their son? What if that was their baby? They’ll feel like me,” Brown said. “They snatched my baby’s life away from him.”
Brown also said Holland’s dream was to play for the Kansas City Chiefs as a wide receiver.
The family has started a GoFundMe to help with Holland’s funeral expenses. It has a goal of $12,000.
The Silent Women Speaking Foundation and 1Bridge Connect are partnering together to collect food, hygiene products, clothing and Christmas toys for Holland’s family. Donations can be dropped off at 1Brdige Connect on 25 East Beaver Street or contact Silent Women Speaking Foundation Founder Haraka Carswell at 904-440-9178.