Published on January 30, 2025 at 10:09 am
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Nearly a week after a 7-year-old boy was shot and killed while walking down the street, his family is inviting the community to celebrate his much too short life on Thursday with a candlelight vigil.
The event, which is open to the public, is at 6 p.m. at Johnnie W. Walker Park at 2500 W. 20th Street in Jacksonville.
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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.
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“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 $18,000 is being offered by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as detectives continue to look for the people responsible for Breon’s death.
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.
This story came from Jacksonville Today partner News4Jax.
