Family and Friends Remember Raven Cooper
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A candlelight vigil was held for a sixteen year old boy who was shot and killed on July first.
Police say Raven Cooper was gunned down on the corner of Bay Street and Goodman following an argument.
The family of Raven Cooper is devastated by this loss and his mother is struggling with unanswered questions. The context of the argument police say took place prior to the shooting is still unknown and there are no suspects at this time. However, his mother believes her son's killers are keeping a close eye on her home.
"The amount of pain I feel right now, nobody would know," says Raven Cooper’s Mother.
Coupled with fear, Mahogany Dodd says boys around her son's age have been driving by her home yelling threats from their window. She doesn't recognize them, but believes they may be responsible for her son's death.
"He was hanging out with a best friend of his,” says Mahogany Dodd, Raven Cooper’s Mother. “I saw him maybe twenty minutes before the incident."
Mahogany says the same boys who made the drive-by threats drove past Raven's sisters, pointing at them as they went down the street. The family now fears for its safety.
"There is no reason why a sixteen year old child should be laid to rest right now," says Mahogany.
Mahogany says Raven had just received his work permit and was looking forward to finding a job. She describes her son as funny, giving and full of energy.
"He has a lot of qualities that I’m going to miss. He fished; he liked to do that on the weekends. He just bought a fishing pole. He didn't even get a chance to use it," said Raven’s Mother.
Raven, one of six children, was close to his family. His mom says he was refurnishing chairs he bought from a garage sale. He planned to give them to his grandmother as a surprise.
His younger sister still asks when he's coming home. The family built a memorial in the backyard for raven with pictures, candles and teddy bears.
“For the city of Rochester we really need to get it together, but I know in my heart that god got him,” says Mahogany. “And that eases me.”
Raven cooper was enrolled in the Rochester City School District's North Star educational program.
His funeral will be held on Monday.