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Candlelight Vigil Held For Slain Miami Teen

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A candlelight vigil was held for a slain Miami teenager as police continue to search for his killer.

The shooting happened Sunday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. Miami Police say Pedro Uriarte, 18, was walking on NW 20th Street near 4th Ct. around 3:30 p.m. when someone with a gun approached and opened fire.

"Pray for my son.  That's it.  Pray for my son," said Manuel Uriarte, Pedro's father, to the crowd who'd gathered for the candlelight vigil.  Those in attendance included classmates and students from Miami Jackson Senior High and family members.  Loved ones placed candles, stuffed animals and balloons in his memory.

Uriarte said neither he nor his wife have been able to sleep or eat since learning of Pedro's murder.  "I'm destroyed, my wife is destroyed."

CLICK HERE to watch Oralia Ortega's report

The victim's mother was so overcome with grief, she collapsed at the candlelight vigil.  The pain of losing her youngest son was too much to bear.

"We're falling apart but we're staying strong with love but physically we're breaking down," said Jesus Uriarte, Pedro's brother.

According to friends, the gunman tried to steal a pair of Beats headphones that Pedro bought over the holiday weekend.

"He was just a good kid, he didn't deserve that," said Pedro's brother Jesus Uriarte. "He meant the world to us, he was the baby. He was the baby of the family."

Jesus Uriarte told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that  his brother was set to graduate high school in June and wanted to go to business school.

"He had the whole world in front of him, he was only 18," said Jesus. "All he wanted to do was graduate."

"I'm suffering. He wanted to be an accountant. He always made us laugh. He always had a smile. He always asked me how are you doing," said Manuel Uriarte, Pedro's father.

Students at Miami Jackson Senior High showed up for class Monday dressed in black and wearing headphones in a show of solidarity for their friend.

"He was known for always jamming to his music, always being the person that was happy no matter what the situation was. And this is to show that we can have the same spirit as him," said Aramis Montenegro.

Watch CBS4 Peter D'Oench's report

Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who once taught at Miami Jackson, stopped by the school to console students and grieve with Uriartes family.

"I'm tired of hugging grieving parents. I was at a loss for words when I met with Marisol and Manuel, Pedro's parents, and what they kept asking was why? Why would an 18-year old who turned his life around, who was getting As and Bs in shool, much beloved by his colleagues, why would he die on weekend when we're supposed to be thankful?" said Carvalho.

Miami Jackson Senior H.S. Principal Carlos Rios told D'Oench that Uriarte was a "good student and a great person."

"We need to help kids," he said. "Our kids are in danger when they are out on the streets. We need help.  We need to help kids the same way we protect them in school. We just lost another student two years ago," said Rios.  It was December of 2012 that Brian Herrera lost his life when he was shot and killed.

Rios told Uriarte's family that Supt. Carvalho had secured the fund through donations to pay for Pedro's burial expenses.  Uriarte died just yards from his home. His friends said he was heading to the store to run an errand for his mom.

"The lady said he had on Beat headphones and that they tried to take them from him and they shot him," said Uriarte's friend Julissa Obano. "How petty could you be to come and kill somebody. How could you take somebody's son, somebody's family member over something so stupid."

Investigators have not confirmed robbery was the motive.

Classmates said Uriarte will always be with them in spirit, even when they graduate.

"Although he's not with us here in person, we're going to make sure that he walks the stage with us. He's gonna be with us," said Montenegro.

Miami police are still searching for the shooter.  They are also looking for surveillance tape and do not know if there was a getaway vehicle.

"If you know anything at all, please help us, please help us. I feel bad. I feel bad. Show us you love us," said Jesus Uriarte.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.

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