Vigil held in St. Albans, Queens park for slain 15-year-old Jaden Pierre

A 15-year-old boy who was gunned down last week was honored by his Queens community on Monday night.

Mourners gathered for a vigil at Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans, where Jaden Pierre was shot and killed on Thursday night.

Elected officials and local residents of all ages came out to pay their respects.

"We have failed you. Your son should be home," Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said to the teen's family. 

"I was feeling sad for him that it happened to him and his family. That really shouldn't happen to anyone," one 11-year-old added.

The latest on the investigation

Police say Pierre was shot in the chest following a dispute on a basketball court inside the park. He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition, but later died.

So far, no arrests have been made, but the investigation is definitely moving forward. On Friday, police released photos of someone wanted in connection with the shooting, and New York Attorney General Letitia James said during the vigil on Monday that the NYPD knows who is responsible and where they are. She asking that person to turn themself in.

James also said the shooting may have been gang related.

"Gang life is not a good life. It's no life," she said.

"Somebody could've stopped it"

Pierre's killing was captured on cellphone video, but is too disturbing to show. Loved ones said they are concerned that no one acted.

"My son is 17. It could have been my child," parent Salma Bacchus said. "Somebody could've stopped it. Somebody could've stopped it."

Parents said they are now concerned for their own children's safety.

"It's very heartbreaking to our community. We have children of our own. They travel to go to school. This shouldn't have happened," Shantee Williams said.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said Friday that Pierre's family had just moved into the neighborhood. He called the shooting a senseless and horrific tragedy.

"We have work to do as a community," he said. "We have to give these young people an outlet, otherwise they're going to be in the park with mayhem."

Richards Jr. stressed the importance of expanding youth programs for after-school and in the summer. 

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.