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Memphis mother of 16-year-old killed in shooting speaks out

“I thought I would never have to bury my own child," Jessica Kizer said.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jessica Kizer, the mother of a 16-year-old boy shot and killed while hanging out with friends in Memphis is sharing her son's story. 

This comes as the Bluff City saw more than 80 homicides since January. The city is quickly approaching 2023’s record-breaking numbers.

Kizer is mourning the loss of her 16-year-old son, Jeremiah.

“I’m used to my oldest son pretty much helping me out with a lot of things around the house," Kizer said, struggling to fight tears as she collected her thoughts.

She’s left to be strong for her youngest, while mourning the loss of her oldest.

Jeremiah was at a party with friends at a rental property on March 16 when someone drove up and shot him, according to the police report from the scene that night. 

Jessica is no stranger to tragedy. Her husband was shot and killed in a similar incident years prior.

“I thought I would never have to bury my own child,” Kizer said. 

The Memphis Police Department is still investigating her son’s death. Officers tell Kizer, the owners of the rental property are providing information including access to their cameras.

It’s a horrifying incident Kizer said could have been prevented.

“I don’t know how these kids are getting these guns, but I think that needs to be stopped, that’s not right,” she said.

Her only other message to the public is asking for help finding the person responsible.

“If it’s somebody out there that knows something, I feel like they need to come forward,” Kizer said. “It’s not right.”

Kizer tells ABC24, she wishes the accessibility to guns in the Bluff City could be changed and says maybe her son would still be alive today.

If you have any information on this shooting incident, contact the Memphis Police Department.

You can donate to the family's GoFundMe here.

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