Friends and family packed a Harrisburg church Tuesday to remember 18-year-old Malik Stern-Jones. Stern-Jones was shot to death a week ago near the city’s Hall Manor housing complex. Harrisburg police say his 15-year-old cousin, Niejea Stern, is responsible.
More than 200 family and friends paid their respects to a man known to them as “Leaky”.
“I hope it’s peaceful and I’m hoping the family – we can just come together and mourn,” said Sonya Clemons, a friend of the family.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the church as people said their goodbye’s one by one. Stern-Jones had just graduated High School and had plans to watch his four young children grow up.
“He was a good father, very quiet, big smile,” said Anthony Stern, Stern-Jones’s uncle.
Those who have lived in the city their entire life say the violence needs to stop.
“Where did a gun like that one come from? And the person that purchased that gun, purchased it legally. So what’s going to happen with that? A lot of kids are getting killed in the inner city,” said Clemons.
Stern-Jones’s uncle wants the public, specifically parents ,to learn from his nephew’s death.
“I’ve always said in essence when you look at the 15 year old – it starts at home. It starts at home, that’s with everyone of those kids. It always starts at home,” says Stern.