Hundreds gathered at a Newburgh church Wednesday to say their final goodbyes to a teen who was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Mourners filled Ebenezer Baptist Church for 15-year-old Jeffrey Zachary's funeral. "He liked to make people laugh," said the victim's friend, Leon Hobbs. "I don't see why somebody would go and do that to him. He was a good person."
A memorial is set up where the ninth-grader, who liked to play basketball, was gunned down May 6. Relatives believe the bullet was meant for someone else. Three years ago, the family buried Zachary's older brother, Trent, who was also killed in a drive-by shooting.
"My question to the city is this: What are you doing with the teenagers?," said Zachary's cousin Hillary Rayford. "What are you doing with the youth? If you don't have a place for them, you're sending them to an early grave."
Rayford, who is a minister, and her husband run a basketball program for Newburgh youths to prevent such tragedies. However, she believes more help is needed.
Daniel Correa, 21, and 16-year-old Joshua Torres are both charged with second-degree murder in the case. Police say Correa was the shooter and Torres the driver.
The family said it's grateful for the quick arrests. "I just want to thank the Newburgh ... Police Department and the special detectives ... for a job well done," said Harold Rayford.
To hear more remarks from the family, go to Channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.