Mount Vernon 14-Year-Old Killed In Gun Violence Is ID'd

MOUNT VERNON, NY — The teen killed in gun violence in Mount Vernon on Thursday has been identified by officials as 14-year-old Zyaire Fernandez.

Update: Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard announced that tonight's prayer vigil has been postponed due to weather.

The STEAM Academy freshman died after being shot in the chest in a courtyard at the Levister Towers complex.

A GoFundMe Campaign has been started to help the family cover funeral and burial expenses.

"If you knew Zy you knew that infectious smile, the lovable laugh, and the loyalty he felt to his family and friends at all time," Fernandez's loved ones said in the online campaign. "He was a good kid with a good heart that didn't deserve this to happen to him and as community we need to come together to stop the violence . It starts with all of us. So in this time of mourning we ask for all yall prayers, love, and any contributions you can give to help with us sending our boy off right."

The family has also encouraged the community to use the GoFundMe setup in Fernandez's honor as a place to pay tribute to the teen.

"Even if you have nothing to give a kind word and share of this post would be doing more than you could imagine," organizers said.

Calling Fernandez's death "senseless," Mount Vernon Mayor Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said that the entire community needs to focus on ending the cycle of violence, before there is another tragedy.

"My heart is broken by this senseless and inexcusable murder, and I grieve with his family, friends, neighbors, schoolmates, and our Mount Vernon community," Patterson-Howard wrote in a statement released on Friday. "While we can do nothing to bring him back, we can and we must work together to prevent other families from feeling this unimaginable pain and devastation."

The mayor said that the city has come together, but healing will not be easy.

"I am grateful to the Mount Vernon Police Department, Fire Department and EMS for their quick response and to our detectives who are actively working on this case," Mayor Patterson-Howard said. "Thank you to the Wellness Division of the Police Department which is spearheading support for the family, neighbors, school district, and our first responders who have been impacted."

A prayer vigil is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m., at the Levister Towers Courtyard near the site of the shooting.

Mayor Patterson-Howard encouraged the community to attend the vigil in "peace" and "love," but she said there is work yet to be done — for all of us.

"We are going beyond thoughts and prayers and ask that while you pray for this family, you also commit to being part of stemming the tide of violence in our community," she said. "Again, I look forward to generative and productive discussions to make this family the last one to experience this profound and senseless loss.