The family of Eric Gregory Brown III has setup a GoFundMe to assist with funeral and burial costs after the 12-year-old was gunned down in an apparent gang-related shooting May 9.
“He was just a baby in the wrong place at the wrong time. Eric was the 2nd of 5 children leaving behind his mother, his siblings and a host of family and lots of friends. Eric will be remembered for his loving smile and his dance moves,” reads the GoFundMe. “Angela and her children’s lives will be forever changed by this tragic event.”
The incident occurred around 11:32 p.m. in the 2200 block of Lewis Avenue in Long Beach Monday night.
According to family members, Brown was hanging out with friends when shots were fired.
They were reportedly asked “Where you from?” before shots were fired.
“I just wanted to say whoever did it, can you please just turn yourself in, please,” said the boy’s mother Angela Washington.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson released a statement saying he was heartbroken at the tragedy of Brown’s life being cut short.
Last night, a child’s life was cut too short by a senseless act of gun violence. As a father, I am heartbroken. We need our children to feel safe in our city. We must never accept this as normal. We must protect and prioritize our youth. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Eric Gregory Brown III, the young victim whose life was cut short, and to the 14-year-old girl who was hospitalized. We recognize that violence affects the health and well being of those directly affected as well as the surrounding community. Later today, we will be working with our city’s health department to provide support and resources for community members who need them.
Mayor Rex Richardson
To assist the family please click here.
Emilie St. John is a contributing writer for 2UrbanGirls.com and the Los Angeles Wave newspaper
