Bikers filled the streets and cars honked their horns as dozens marched to honor the life of a 16-year-old who was shot and killed in Harrisburg. Organizers said they want the community to stand up and fight back against violence, pedophilia, and child trafficking.
"I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the shootings. The killings. That little boy didn't have to lose his life at 16-years-old," said Jamicia Johnson, who helped organize the march along with her mother Leah Jennings.
16-year-old Kyan King was shot near North 18th and Forster Street on August 29th around 12:55 p.m.Police said they were first dispatched to the area for a report of a shooting and someone being naked.
According to the criminal complaint, a short time before the shooting, King told a woman he had been raped and that a man was chasing him with a gun. That witness, according to police paperwork, said she tried to get King a towel to cover up but within minutes she observed the suspect, Orlando Duarte, running with a gun in his hand. Police said the witness stated that Duarte fired in King's direction.
A second witness told police she was walking from the corner store when she heard a loud 'Help.' She told police as she neared the 18-hundred block of Forster St, she heard a gunshot. Police paperwork stated that the witness then observed King lying on the ground and she could hear him yell out another faint 'help.'
Police claim she also observed the suspect, Orlando Duarte, standing over King and that she saw him shoot King two times before he took off.
Officers said witnesses alerted them to the fleeing suspect. Orlando Duarte was charged with criminal homicide and the prohibited possession of a firearm.
Police said another witness had advised officers that he knew Duarte and had seen King in Duarte's apartment earlier that day. Police said they arrived at the location on N 17th Street to find documents containing Duarte's name a shell casing on the table, and two letters on the bed. Police said one of the letters allegedly came from King and read "if you're reading this I am dead." The letter went on to say how much he loved everyone.
"I pray every day that this would never never happen again," said Jennings.
Jennings and Johnson asked supporters to dress in Army fatigue as the 'God's Army Save Our Children Rally' gathered at 2 p.m. Saturday at the site of the shooting. Supporters said their goal was to push community members and lawmakers to take action for children.
"We need to get these people to understand that these children are our future. Without these children, there is no future," said Johnson. Both Johnson and Jennings urged community members to 'speak up' and 'take a stand.'
"We used to have community watch," said Jennings. "What happened to it?"
A sister of King spoke at the event after marchers arrived to their final destination on the steps of the state capitol.
"The situation is heartbreaking for all of us," Mary King said. She added, "I don't know what to say, but I just want to say thank you. And, that's from all of us."