The funeral for Tyre King on Saturday was a service not just for those who knew the 13-year-old but for a community of people who say they are now heartbroken and searching for solutions.
“It's just hard. It's unreal to me,” said Mikayla Swann, who says she knew Tyre.
Chance Groce also attended the funeral with his mother.
“Me and Tyre were close friends,” Groce said before he walked into the funeral. “He used to stay the night at my house a lot. We played basketball together.”
Others attended the funeral who did not know Tyre King or his family members.
“It's hard for everybody, even me. I'm not a family member but it just hurts me too,” said Earlene Twyman.
Hundreds of people filled the church for King’s visitation which was followed by a one-and-a-half hour funeral service.
“One thing I do remember about him was his smile, and used to always tell me to stay out of trouble and just focus on my work and basketball,” said Swann.
King was shot and killed by Columbus police officer Bryan Mason on September 14. Officers say they were responding to a call for an armed robbery that quickly turned into a deadly scene.
“Personally I took it bad because I knew him a lot more than other people,” said Groce.
“I froze as soon as I saw him in the casket,” said Swann.
King was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens at a private ceremony.