JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nearly a week after a 7-year-old boy was shot and killed while walking down the street, his family held a funeral service to celebrate his much too short life.
On Saturday, Allen’s funeral service was held at St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church and was attended by hundreds, including several kids who wore their football jerseys to commemorate Allen’s time as a football star.
“I love that boy like he was my child because he was my school child,” said a former teacher of Allen’s. “But now he is my forever shining star. When I look up at night and see the shining star that’s Bre that Dusse. When I see the wind blowing fierce that’s Dusse. And then when the sun is shining bright, that’s my Dusse. That’s Breon.”
Mayor Donna Deegan extended her condolences and offered support to the family, saying she is working to change the narrative in the city.
The entire vigil that was held on Thursday can be watched below:
“I can’t make it better right now. We’re trying to make it better. I just want you to know that we love you and we’re here for you, and we want to make sure these babies are okay,” Deegan said. “We have to do better. This shouldn’t be something we do regularly.
Some community members turned their messages to Deegan in a plea for help and accountability.
One man who grew up in Grand Park said he knew Breon’s father. He shared a message of concern with the mayor:
“I’m glad you’re here. It’s a lot of stuff that when I was growing up, these kids don’t got. It’s nothing for these kids to do,” he said. “There’s a lot of stuff we can do as a whole, but there’s a lot of stuff that the people downtown can do, too.”
Breon, who was affectionately known as “Dusse,” was tragically killed last Friday in a shooting while simply going about his daily routine, walking 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.
Breon 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 Breon died from his injuries.
The president of Grand Park said after seeing years worth of shootings and deaths, Allen’s death was the one that hurt the most.
“We do need help out here to continue to try to help these kids,” he said.
Allen’s grandmother said he was her 50th birthday gift.
“One of the best presents you could ever get,” she shared. “He took a chunk of my heart with me, but he left so much good, laughter and kindness. His memory is in our hearts, our minds and our soul.”
“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 Breon’s death, they have shown Love and Breon’s family an outpouring of 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.
An enhanced reward of up to $25,000 has been offered by First Coast Crime Stoppers for information that leads to an arrest. Executive Director Chase Robinson says they got multiple tips after the first reward enhancement and are hoping more tips will lead to an arrest soon.
Investigators found the vehicle involved and it is being processed.
The family and sheriff’s office continue to ask if anyone has information that would help identify those responsible to call JSO at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
