Those close to the Jacksonville 7-year-old who was caught in the crossfire and murdered on Sunday night told Action News Jax he was a fun, energetic young man who loved sports.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Tashawn Gallon was shot and killed in front of his home on Mt. Herman Street during a shootout.
They said Gallon was not the intended target.
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A $10,000 reward is on the table for information in Gallon’s murder.
“This baby is not going to be able to go to school (Tuesday). He’s not going to be able to see his birthday, Christmas. He's not going to be able to hug his mom, tell his mom he loves her, and it’s vice versa,” said Gallon’s neighbor Canesha Clayton.
Clayton and her husband have a motorcycle. She said Gallon used to race them down the street on his toy bike.
Canesha Clayton to her 'racing buddy,' Tashawn Gallon: "This baby is not going to be able to go to school tomorrow, he’s not going to be able to see his birthday, Christmas, not going to be able to hug his momma, tell his momma he loves her, & it’s vice versa." @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/94h7HJUf1G
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) February 20, 2018
“Now my little racing buddy, I can’t race with him anymore when he’s on the motorcycle, because he’s not here anymore, and it’s crazy. I’m sorry,” Clayton said as she stepped away in tears.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just sad that this baby had to lose his life over nonsense.”
Fearing retaliation, one of Gallon’s counselors at the Boys and Girls Club didn't want to give her name or show her face, but she did want to tell the world about this special little boy.
Tashawn's @BGCA_Clubs counselor: "We got to save our babies. We got to save them. It's just senseless acts of crime and gun violence, and I don't think they really, fully understand that you can take someone's life away." @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/r1A25XE3H9
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) February 20, 2018
“Tashawn was very energetic. He always had a positive attitude. He loved sports,” the counselor said. “I've had my moments throughout the day just thinking about it, and I'm just, like, 'No, it's not real,' but it hasn't really sunk in.”
Gallon is the fifth child hurt in shootings in Jacksonville in 2018.
“Just leave the kids out of it,” Clayton said, still crying. “Leave the guns out of it.”
Police are looking for a small, dark-colored SUV. https://t.co/Sh0PIJCome
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) February 20, 2018
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