ARLINGTON, Va. — Hundreds of Arlington community members gathered for a candlelight vigil at Washington-Liberty High School to remember the student-athlete killed in a Friday car crash in the Rock Spring neighborhood.
Braylon Meade, 17, was making a U-turn on Old Dominion Drive when he was struck by an SUV just before 12:30 a.m. according to Arlington County Police.
"I will never ever forget you," said Meade's girlfriend, Christine Wilson during the Sunday night vigil. She described the last moments she spent with her boyfriend of three years just hours before his death.
"Our last night together you asked me to play Paradise by Coldplay on the piano, that's where you are now," said Wilson.
Basketball coach Robert Dobson announced that Meade's jersey number, 22, will be retired to honor the teenager, telling the crowd, "I don't know how to get through this, losing someone so young. So promising."
Dobson broke down crying and was embraced by the basketball team who shared words of admiration for their teammate.
"As I grew closer to him, he pushed me to be better in the academics department, a better brother and a better son," said Collin Lu to WUSA9.
Some of Meade's friends made reference to the deadly incident during their speeches. Calling the driver of the SUV 'irresponsible'.
"Now you have to live with another person's blood on your hands just because of a dumb decision you made," said Jakahi Beale.
The teenage boy driving the SUV has been charged with a DUI and involuntary manslaughter.
"Ultimately, we want everyone to know that this community to know that we love Braylon Meade," said Washington-Liberty High School Principal Tony Hall. The campus will be providing counseling for staff and students as the mourn the tragic death.
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