WASHINGTON -- On the heels of yet another homicide in D.C. Saturday morning, the community in Southeast gathered to remember another young victim. 15-year-old Maurice Scott was shot and killed the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.
Ward 8 Council Member Trayon White says Scott marks the 18th child shot in his ward in the past nine months.
Scott's friends and family came together to remember a young boy that was denied a promising future Saturday night.
"Maurice is just like sunshine. Like he always had a smile on his face," said Scott's friend, Lorenzo Bryant.
It's a smile many displayed on their shirts at the vigil, often flecked with tear stains.
“He’s not walking up here and going up them steps. I lost my son, and he was really good to me. He took care of me," said Monique Scott, Maurice's mom.
Unfortunately, tragedies like this one are commonplace for two of Maurice's 15-year-old friends, who have known him since elementary school.
“I was scared to even come to this candlelight up here. I didn’t want to be nowhere around this part down there," said Bryant.
"A bullet ain’t got no name on it. You could be at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Savion Taylor, Maurice's friend.
They both agree, though: that's what it's like to live in Southeast.
Speakers at the vigil said they have the power to change that reality.
“We’ve got to open up the lines of communication to help better each other and love each other and protect each other and stop this from happening," said Makiyah Wilson's uncle, who got up to speak.
His niece, Makiyah, was also shot to death just walking in her own neighborhood.
“I want ya’ll to be smart, bro. I can’t lose another one of ya’ll bro. That was my little man, and I can’t get him back. That was my little man. That was my little homie. I want all ya’ll to be safe bro," said another speaker, getting choked up.
After the vigil, the crowd walked the couple blocks to the convenience store where Scott was shot, carrying balloons and music with them.
They all stopped to sing in a front of a mural of Maurice Scott's face, which has popped up on the side of the store.
A gofundme page has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.