Updated 08/01/2012 11:57 PM
Funeral Held For 4-Year-Old Bronx Boy Shot On Playground
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Friends and family paid final respects Wednesday to a young boy killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx last week. NY1's Michael Herzenberg filed the following report.Hundreds packed the Mt. Neboh Baptist Church Wednesday to say goodbye to Lloyd Morgan Jr., just 4 years old.
On July 22, a shootout between rival groups outside the Forest Houses left Lloyd with
a fatal bullet wound to the head.
"I can imagine the hurt," said Kashima Williams, a friend of Lloyd's mother. "I have a son myself and I don't know what I would do."
A grand jury indicted 17-year-old Rondell Pinkerton with murder and several other charges. 19-year-old Ronald Jeffrey also faces a murder charge.
Lawrence West, who said he was like a father figure to Lloyd Jr.'s father, wants to help organize the community to prevent this from happening to another family.
"Like I told Lloyd Morgan Sr., his son did not die in vain," West said. "We are going to try to the best of our ability to make something out of this death. It's a senseless death by a 17-year-old of a 4-year-old."
In the wake of high-profile gun violence, some community-based groups are doing their part to curb shootings. The Lay Down Your Guns Campaign and the Brooklyn Blizzards Youth Organization helped get four illegal guns off the street in the past week.
Those at the funeral said action needs to be taken now.
"We have children killing children," said family friend Darlene McRae. "I think we need to take a look at what creates this inner youngster that's 17 or 19 years old and how could we maybe prevent it and offer them help as well to prevent this type of thing from happening in the future."
Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy and local politicians were inside as well. A program handed out at the funeral describes Lloyd Jr. as a playful boy who loved basketball, music and family time. He was on his way to kindergarten in September.