Mourning the murder of 15-year-old Jacob Craggett, his family and friends held lit candles and walked the path he took just one night before.
The vigil began in front of his grandmother’s house on Vernon Street - where Jacob was visiting the night he was killed - and ended where he was shot half a block away. Family says he was heading home to make his 9 p.m. curfew.
“He had his whole life to live and now he’s gone,” Trina Craggett, Jacob’s aunt, said.
For family, Jacob’s death has become almost too much to bear. His mom shared with NBC Connecticut one of the last moments she had with him.
“The day before yesterday he said ma, you ain’t give me a kiss in a day. Can I get a kiss?” Lisa Craggett said. “And I gave him a big kiss on the cheek, and he said ‘Now that’s what I’m talking about ma.’”
New Haven authorities say Jacob and his brother, 23-year-old Joshua, were in a vehicle with two others on Friday night when they were approached by at least two people who began firing.
"When Jacob saw his brother was shot, he got out of the car, and one of the people shot my son in the back for trying to help his brother," said Lisa. "For anyone to shoot the 15-year-old in the back, you're a coward. You're a coward."
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Joshua and the driver of the vehicle are in the hospital in critical condition. Jacob would have been a sophomore this year at Hill House High School and played football. A teammate says he was enthusiastic and well liked.
"We're going to do something for him, you know? We're not going to sit and mope around. We're going to work extra hard and try to win for him," said Rovaughn Gaskins.
The family says they know those responsible will be caught, and long after the case is closed it's clear Jacob won't be forgotten.
"I just miss my baby. I just miss my baby," said Lisa.
Lisa says she has questions regarding the response time the night of the shooting. She says the ambulance took 35 minutes to arrive even though Yale New Haven Hospital is around the corner.
Police have not made any arrests in this case, and they're asking anyone with information to call detectives at 203-946-6316.
