Hundreds gathered Saturday for the emotional funeral service of Elawnza Peebles, a 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed two weeks ago while walking blocks away from his South Los Angeles home.
Peebles had recently moved from Victorville when he was gunned down Nov. 9 while walking from his uncle’s home.
Peebles’ aunt Danielle Paylor spoke with NBC4 at the Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier about the last time she saw her nephew. Pryor said Peebles was cooking, eating and taking pictures with his family at a cousin’s house about a week before he died.
“I didn't imagine that would be the last time that I saw him,” Paylor said.
Peebles’ mother Carresha Skiffer said Friday that a letter found in her son’s backpack detailed his experiences in his new neighborhood.
“He was saying that it was just unlike what he was used to,” Skiffer said. “You can’t just walk around."
Police said Peebles had no gang ties or a criminal record.
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Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price said he is working with the council and the Los Angeles Police Department to offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Peebles’ killer.
“This is just a tragic reminder of the senseless gun violence that struck this young man and that strikes others in our community,” Price said. “We just have to stop it."
The City Council will vote on the reward when they reconvene following next week’s Thanksgiving break.
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