ATLANTA, Ga. - Close to a hundred students gathered outside Booker T. Washington High School on the evening of New Year's Day, to mourn the classmate who will not return to class with them after winter break.
Fifteen-year-old Preston Lewis was murdered the day after Christmas, and suffered a gunshot wound to the back. He was found unresponsive on Holderness Street in Southwest Atlanta.
"It's been real tough, crying, you know?" one friend said.
Parents and even faculty joined the crowd outside the high school, where students brought a wreath in Preston's memory, prayed, and lit candles.
"He would have come and did the same thing for us," said another friend.
Parents have told FOX 5 they are concerned how their children must face such a terrible tragedy, or have to tackle issues such as gun violence.
Students plan to wear black on Jan. 6 to school to remember Preston Lewis.
Police have not named any motive or suspects in the murder case.
Anyone with any information in the case can contact Atlanta Police or Crime Stoppers.