Vigil held for young Durham shooting victim

DURHAM

The third grader was gunned down last month in front of his mother as they both sat in their car.

About two dozen students and teachers from Pearson Elementary held a candlelight vigil for Jaeden in his neighborhood. The crowd walked about a mile from the school to his home.

"We're doing all that we can to gain strength from each other to try and keep going," said Dr. Cheryl Brewer, who is one of Jaeden's relatives.

Prayers were offered to this grieving community. Balloons with his favorite colors, blue and orange, were released into the sky and a few people were wearing shirts with an emblem Jaeden designed a day before he was killed.

"It's every person's nightmare to encounter something of this magnitude," said Brewer.

On Jan. 4, Jaeden and his mother, Lakeisha Holloway, were shot inside their SUV. He was hit in the head, and his mom in the face.

Jaeden died days after the shooting after he was taken off of life support.

His mother just underwent surgery for her injuries. A family friend told ABC11 that Holloway is doing well right now and recovering.

The pain is widespread -- from those who saw Jaeden grow up or watched him thrive as a student.

"He loved to dance. He was a leader in his dance class," said principal Lamanda Pryor. "He was a leader inside his third grade class."

There will be a memorial for Jaedan in May during the spring concert. The school is also planning on handing out a summer scholarship in his name.

"We're like a close family," said Pryor. "So anytime a family member is taken away. It's hard. So losing Jaeden has been very hard here."

Everett Graves has been charged with shooting and killing Jaeden. His bail has been set at $750,000. Graves is scheduled for court next Friday.

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