'He had life:' Vigil held for Kamarion Woody in place of 13th birthday party

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- On Saturday, friends and family gathered to honor and remember the life of Kamarion Woody. The 13-year-old was shot and killed Thursday at an apartment complex on the city’s east side. 

There’s really only one way to describe the vigil: emotional. Everyone close to him calls him KJ. He just turned 13 on Monday, and Saturday, the day of the vigil, was supposed to be his birthday party. Instead of the celebration, everyone was left mourning a life cut too short.

“I feel dead inside. He was only 13. I have nothing else to say,” KJ's mother, Mia, said. 

Dozens gathered to remember KJ for who he was: a loving, funny and happy kid who would do anything to help anyone. At just 13 he already had his own business mowing lawns, working hard for his money. 

It was clear KJ had an enormous impact on those around him. 

“He had life," his grandmother, Rochelle, said. "He had love. He inspired a lot of people.”

One thing everyone said they are going to miss the most is his smile. His cousin, Juelz Patterson, said they did everything together. They were only two years apart. He said the school year won’t be the same without him.

“We were supposed to play for the same football team,” Patterson said. 

Saturday was supposed to be a day of celebration. A few people even showed up with happy birthday balloons. He will forever be 13. 

“He can't come back. We can't bring him back,” Rochelle said. 

“He was so young. He didn’t deserve that,” Jules Castro, KJ's cousin, said. 

The message at the vigil was clear: gun violence has to stop.

"We're talking about KJ, you know, KJ Woody, whose life was taken suddenly during a time of celebration,” Reverend Crystal Pinager, said. “Now we’re left with a community that is grieving. Children are grieving, they don’t understand. I’ve never seen any type of grief like this.”

KJs family said they want answers and justice.

If you have any information about this incident, no matter how small it may seem, the Columbus Division of Police wants to hear it. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).