'A Life Lost Too Soon': Fundraiser For Slain Phoenixville Teen

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — A fundraiser has been launched for the family of Jayson Ortiz-Cameron, 15, who was shot and killed on Wednesday night in an apparent drug deal-robbery gone wrong.

Ortiz-Cameron was a freshman at Phoenixville Area High School. An outpouring of support and mourning came Thursday morning as news broke that he had passed away.

"(A) life lost to soon due to gun violence," wrote Chiniqua Conley, Ortiz-Cameron's cousin, who launched the fundraiser. "I never thought in a million years I would have to attend the funeral of my little cousin that I didn't get to see develop and grow. Distance separated us but my heart is always with you."

The campaign has set a goal of $10,000. Learn more and donate here.

School district officials have announced that Jan. 2 will be a "Day of Healing" for the school, with an assembly and additional counselors on hand throughout the day and the remainder of next week.

Ortiz-Cameron and a group of his friends allegedly had planned to rob a group of marijuana dealers at the Dunkin Donuts off of Nutt Road at around 7 p.m. Wednesday. Ortiz-Cameron was shot multiple times and was taken to Phoenixville Hospital, just a block away, where he was pronounced dead. For more information on the incident, see our previous coverage here.

Image via GoFundMe