JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The community is showing an outpouring of support to a family who lost their son Friday night. Seven-year-old Breon Allen was tragically killed in a shooting while simply going about his daily routine to the store with his cousin, 21-year-old Lafayette Mango Jr.
The shooting happened off Commonwealth Avenue on Jacksonville’s Westside.
“I just don’t want my son’s name to die. I don’t want it to ever die,” said Casheena Love, Breon’s mother.
Allen and his cousin were walking down the street when several people got out of a car and started shooting at them. They were both rushed to the hospital, where Allen passed away from his injuries.
“He was just doing his usual daily activities. Baby was a store runner, he loved to go to the store. He was going to hustle everybody for a dollar or two, you know, so he could go to the store, and that was his thing, and that was everywhere he went,” Love shared. “Nothing he did that day was out of the norm for him.”
Since the community learned of Allen’s death, they have shown Love and their family an outpouring of support. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and some city officials have called to show their support.
“I see all the love and support from the community, social media, and I thank them. For everybody who’s coming forward and having something to say, who is trying to help us get justice,” Love expressed.
“He liked to win. And what we’re going to do is we’re going to continue the winning that he started,” said Clinton Lane, a family member.
Melissa Jackson, with the Silent Women Speaking Organization, is joining several other moms who lost a child to gun violence to be there for the family.
“If you’re around people that haven’t experienced it, you won’t know how to grieve through it. You won’t know how to go through it, because there’s such a thing as good grief, and you cannot share your tears with everybody,” Jackson said. “Because everybody that you’re sharing your tears with, especially if they don’t know, they won’t know how to handle your tears. They won’t know what to say when you’re going through it. So going through it with a mom who knows, we know what you need. We know what not to say, we know when to say, we know when to be quiet, and we know when to hug. We just know,” Jackson explained.
The Sheriff’s Office stated that detectives continue to work on this tragic and senseless murder. The investigation has led to the vehicle involved being located, and it is being processed.
Additionally, the available information is being vetted and evidence analyzed in an effort to identify potential suspects.
The family and sheriff’s office continue to ask if anyone has information that would help identify those responsible for Allen’s death to call JSO or CrimeStoppers.
An enhanced reward of up to $18,000 is being offered by JSO as they continue to look for the people responsible for Allen’s death.
