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Loved Ones Seek Answers For Teen Killed While Attending Wake

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A gunman is on the loose and a grieving mother has opened up following the loss of her teenage son who was attending a wake.

Jedadiah Scatliffe, 18, was shot and killed on Saturday in Miami. The Booker T. Washington graduate was mourning the loss of his friend at a wake when gunfire rang out.

"My son was a loving person," said his mother, Trevale Harris. "He loved everybody and friends. My son was going to college, Tallahassee Community College. They took my son away from me. 18 years old. I can't do it."

The family has now turned to the community to find his killer.

"When I got the call that said 'your son was shot,' I was shocked," she said. "'What do you mean? Hurry up and get here.'"

But it was too late.

Police say Scatliffe was shot Friday at Williams Park on N.W. 4th Avenue and 16th Street while the wake was underway.

"Just come by and start shooting. He shot my son and another guy," Harris said. "My son did not make it."

That young man ended up in the hospital in critical condition, police said.

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho visited Scatliffe family to pay his respects. It was the second time.

Two years ago, Scatliffe's cousin Richard Hallman, a sophomore at Booker T. Washington, was also shot and killed.

"This is too much tragedy in this community for one family I know well," said Carvalho. "When will this end? We are running out of tears, tweets, embraces. This code of silence has to come to end. Someone speak up. Speak up what you know."

The grieving mother echoed the message.

"I want justice," Harris said. "Somebody please say something. Please, please let me know who did this to my son. I just want justice."

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