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Community remembers teen killed in Independence

Posted at 5:04 PM, Sep 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-20 23:24:31-04

On Tuesday Tymon Reed, 20, was arrested on 2nd-degree murder charges in the death of Javon Reilly, 16. 

Javon, a student at Van Horn High School, was shot and killed Monday afternoon. According to police documents, Javon and Reed were in a scuffle in which Javon attempted to remove a gun from Reed before being shot. 

"Why our children can't walk home from school or go to school and be able to return safe, it's a problem," said Rosilyn Temple of KC Mothers In Charge. "It's a community responsibility."

Dozens of students gathered outside Van Horn High School Tuesday before school for a prayer vigil in honor of their lost friend. 

Heather Martin, a Van Horn junior, described how it was a tough day for many students.

"Hallways were very silent. All you can hear is just people walking. No voices at all," she said. 

Dozens of people also gathered at the school Tuesday night to remember Javon. 

“I’m glad that he has a lot of people; that really makes me feel good,” said Javon’s mother, Jackie Reilly. 

She is finding some relief in the show of support.

“A little,” she said. “It would be a relief if my son was standing here.”

Before the vigil began, another mother who does not know Jackie came to her with a gift. She offered up one of her family’s burial plots. 

“I have eight burial plots, and I want to give one to you,” said Deea Birch. “Mother to mother.”

Reilly was speechless. She said it’s one less thing she has to worry abut. 

Birch’s son was friends with Javon.

“I had to look into my son’s eyes and tell him that his friend just got murdered by some jerk who couldn't use this and had to use a gun,” Birch said. 

The Independence School District confirmed it had added security at the school Tuesday and will continue to do so until it learns more information. 

"They should have a plan at a time like this. Kids are scared. Kids have to walk the same exact way, that something like that happened, kids should feel safe," said recent Van Horn graduate Haylee Martin. 

Job Corps and Mothers In Charge are teaming up for a peace week. 

Starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, they are going to KCPD central patrol. They will also stop by the homes of three families who have recently lost children to gun violence. Anyone is welcome to join their efforts. 

There are at least two GoFundMe pages that have been started to support Javon's family and their funeral costs. You can find out more by searching #JavonWorld on social media. 

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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com

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