Mayor Walsh Addresses Burke High School Grads After Shooting
BOSTON (CBS) -- Among the smiles and celebration, Jeremiah Burke High School's graduating seniors paused to remember one of their own, tragically taken from them in a shooting just two days before.
"He was actually a friend of mine," said senior Arminda Carvalu.
A moment of silence was held for junior Raekwon Brown. The 17-year-old was gunned down just outside the school Wednesday. Brown died, but two other teens and a woman survived.
The tragedy of the shooting earlier this week hung over graduation.
"While we grieve the loss of our young warrior, we rise," said Lindsa McIntyre, headmaster, to the graduating class.
Mayor Marty Walsh, who had been scheduled to address the graduates before the shooting took place, offered them words of support.
"You're sad, you're angry, you're upset--you have every right to be, because I am as well," said Walsh.
Brown was shot and killed outside the pizza shop next to school. Two others teens were wounded in the violence early Wednesday afternoon.
"It's sad a young man's future has been cut short," said Walsh.
Police are frustrated with the lack of witnesses coming forward. They are not alone.
"It's not fair," said Carvalu.
"We want to solve this one. It's terrible. And, we worry about retaliation. The sooner we get someone the sooner we prevent someone from getting back," said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans.
WBZ security analyst Ed Davis emphasizes it takes time.
"Sometimes the pressure of the situation has to alleviate before people come forward," said Davis.
There have been no arrests. Walsh said it's still unclear what the motive was.
"People are afraid. They're not exactly sure what was behind this shooting. We're not exactly sure this is gang-related, gang-involved or what the issue was as far as the shooter," Walsh told WBZ-TV's Jon Keller Friday.
"We're understanding it was a conversation that went bad or an argument that went bad," a relative of Brown's told WBZ-TV's Bill Shields.
For the 121 graduates, Friday was their time to remember and look toward their future.
"It's important, because I did it for a couple of people who are not here," said senior Sael Foseca. "I did it for my boy, Rae Rae, that died…probably go to college, something for my boys who can't. I'm gonna do it for them."
