Tragedy struck a South Florida youth football team after their teammate, 13-year-old George Harris Jr., was killed in an accidental shooting that occurred over the weekend in Miami Gardens. The Liberty City Warriors took the field on Tuesday, not for practice, but to honor the life of their friend who wore number 14, NBC 6 South Florida reported.
Playing video games Saturday, a gun that some kids started playing with discharged, hitting Harris in the back of the head. He was quickly airlifted to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, where, according to CBS News Miami, his battle for life ended. As the police investigation unfolds, no one has been taken into custody, and it remains unclear how these children accessed a loaded firearm.
The overwhelming feeling of loss was palpable as teammates remembered Harris at Tuesday's gathering. "I feel real hurt, like, George meant a lot to me," Keywann Bates told NBC 6 South Florida. Another teammate, Jaylen Jackson, expressed his shock, saying, "At first I didn't believe it was true, it was just so unexpected." The reality of their friend's absence, akin to a nightmare, was hard to grapple with for these young athletes.
Coach Shanton Crummie urged for change, "We're just asking the neighborhood, the kids in the neighborhood to put the guns down — stop playing with these guns, love on each other, we need the village back," he stated in a poignant call to action, as obtained by NBC 6 South Florida. The coach remembered Harris as a respectful and good-hearted boy who always greeted him and met his gaze, a void now felt deeply by those privileged enough to be touched by Harris's character.
A vigil for the young athlete is set for Wednesday at Hadley Park in Miami, bringing together teammates, family, and community members to remember a life cut tragically short. Everyone is looking for answers and solace as this South Florida community confronts the heart-wrenching consequences of a moment's inadvertence with irreversible outcomes. Further coverage of this story can be found on CBS News Miami.
