Family Needs Help For NW Miami-Dade Teen's Funeral
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The family of a teenager shot and killed in a Northwest Miami-Dade neighborhood is asking for help to lay the teen to rest.
Joe'wuan Coles was killed in front of an apartment along Northwest 17 Avenue and Northwest 76 Street last Monday night. His killer is still out there.
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Joe'wuan's great aunt, Charese Coles, came to South Florida from Atlanta to be with her grieving family.
"He was just a mild-mannered very humble young boy," she said. "He had a lot of goals and aspirations he wanted to reach. He wanted to get his mom up out of this community."
His mother, Nadia Coles, added, "He knew there was more to life than just where we're placed at right now."
A freshman at Miami Northwestern, Joe'wuan loved football and basketball. He was going to spend the summer working.
Joe'wuan, who known to friends and family as "Popcorn," died when police say two people fired high powered assault rifles into the apartment complex. Four men in their twenties were hurt.
"I just want to plead to the person or persons who took his life. You have a conscience. Turn yourself in, please," begged Charese Coles.
As family members plead for answers, they're also asking for help from the community to lay Joe'wuan to rest
"If 6,500 people could take just $1 to the funeral home," said family friend Mattie Murray-Roberts.
They also started a go-fund-me page to help pay for the funeral. They say they never expected to deal with the death of a teenager.
"I'm not prepared for this. I'm not ready for this," cried Nadia Coles.
"Not a 15 year old. We're not supposed to bury our children, we're not," added Charese Coles.
The family hopes to have a funeral on Saturday. If you'd like to help, you can visit their Go Fund Me page.
Anyone with information about the case should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. You may be eligible for a reward, and you can remain anonymous.
