SYRACUSE -- The morning after a Halloween night of shootings in Syracuse, hundreds of people packed the People's AME Zion Church for the funeral of last week's murder victim, Tavorn Hunter.
Hunter, 27, was gunned down October 24th, outside the Middle East Market on South Salina Street during a robbery attempt. 17-year-old Shakeem Moore faces charges of second degree murder and first degree attempted robbery. Moore reportedly told police he was part of a plot to rob Hunter during an alleged drug transaction. 21-year-old Derek Williams was charged as an accomplice. Though Williams was not at the scene of the shooting, he too faces murder and robbery charges for allegedly arranging the robbery.
Mourners at Hunter's funeral remember his life. Shawuana Bailey called him "free spirited, loving and happy go lucky." Another friend, Jeze B. Said Tavorn Hunter was "very unique, very humble and very genuine."
Both women spoke out against the wave of recent violence in Syracuse. On Halloween night, four young people were shot in two separate incidents. Bailey told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon, "there's too many killings going on right now, too many for no apparent reason." She added, "Parents need to get on their job and pay attention to their children."
Jeze B. said, "it's all jealousy and hate and in the end everybody loses."
