Hundreds gathered to remember 12-year-old Jovonn "JoJo" Magee-Thomas at a vigil and a candlelight ceremony this week in Las Vegas, following his death in an e-scooter accident. The Mater Academy East community came together in mourning, where JoJo was a student and athlete. According to FOX5 Vegas, JoJo's flag football jersey, #8, will be retired in his honor. The young boy's life was cut short last Sunday morning after his scooter collided with an RTC Paratransit Van at an intersection.
During the emotional events, JoJo's parents expressed their profound grief and gratitude for the community's support. "Thankful for all of you that are out here supporting my son, supporting us. It’s real hard for us right now," his father said, as reported by FOX5 Vegas. His mother added, reflecting on the support they've received, "If it wasn’t for a lot of you guys, just everything that you guys have done for us, my family, I don’t think that I would be standing here today." The 7th grader was remembered fondly by classmates and teachers as funny, kind, and a star athlete. In his memory, "JoJo’s Bench" has been dedicated on school grounds, providing a place for future students to sit and reflect on the young boy's lasting impact.
A candlelight ceremony at Mater East Academy drove home the unity of the community in the face of tragedy. As mentioned by News3LV, hundreds of students, staff, parents, and friends stood together to honor JoJo's life. Mater Academy's lead principal, Renee Fairless, spoke on the family's importance to the school community, emphasizing the collective grief over the loss.
During the ceremony, JoJo's mother, Mishon Thomas, shared her devastation: "Getting that call was the worst thing that has happened to me in my entire life. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same." His father, Tyron Thomas, also conveyed his disbelief and sorrow, saying, "You know things like this happen, you know, you just don't imagine it's real. So it’s hard for us right now. But this helps quite a bit," as per a News3LV interview. In a testament to JoJo's character, T-shirts bearing his silhouette and the message "Show Love Like Jojo" are being sold, with proceeds to assist the family with funeral expenses and to support his older brother who is preparing for college.
