Shakur Jefferies is the latest young man to lose his life through gun violence in Halifax.
Jefferies was shot to death outside an apartment building on Washmill Lake Drive on Saturday evening. Police are still working to piece together why the 21-year-old man was killed. Meanwhile, Jefferies’ family and friends are trying to cope with his sudden death.
READ MORE: Young man found dead following Halifax shooting
“There’s a lot of words that come to mind when I think of Shakur,” said his friend Jacob Cuvelier. “I would describe him as an unbelievable father, a great son to a strong mother. All his strength. You can find the root of his strength if you talk to his mother for five seconds and a great brother to all of us.”
“He made me feel welcome when he honestly didn’t need to – a white kid from the South End, he could have just paid me no mind, but he took me in like I was his brother,” said Cuvelier.
“When it’s all said and done, man, just remembering him, he stands for everything that Mulgrave Park is as a community,” added Markese Logan.
“I hope we really honestly get stronger and unite as one, because we’re all brothers.”
WATCH: Chaos erupts at Halifax courthouse after Carvel Clayton, accused in homicide of Shakur Jefferies, makes his first appearance
Jefferies’ death is the 10th homicide in the Halifax Regional Municipality so far this year. His former teacher is remembering Shakur as an athletic and kind individual.
“Sometimes when people see theses stories or read about them, certain assumptions are made about individuals and its not always the case, sometimes certain people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time and just don’t have opportunities,” said Adam Maher, Junior High teacher. “I just want to wish his family all the best and just think of him in a positive way.”
In light of another life lost, activists like Quentrel Provo are speaking out and calling for an end to violence in the city once and for all.
“We live in a world where there is pure hate. If people don’t like you, they will take your life. It’s reality now,” said Provo, founder of Stop the Violence.
Provo is calling on government to make changes to help prevent future violence. He is also looking to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the ongoing problem violence is having on the streets of Halifax.
“This is the tenth homicide this year and seven of them were under 30. Seven. Four of them that I know have kids that they are going to grow up without their father,” said Provo. “We’re killing each other. Young men are killing young men, we need to speak up on that and figure out the issues.”
READ MORE: Halifax man charged with 2nd-degree murder in shooting death of Shakur Jefferies
Jefferies’ friends say he was the most loyal and charismatic man you could ever meet – a man they will miss very much.
“That smile, can just light up a room. It’s incredible,” said Cuvelier. “And that laugh, it’s going to be looping in my head. It’s going to be a constant loop. He was precious”
“It sucks that I’m gonna wake up every day and I can’t even see my best friend,” added Logan.
Funeral arrangements for Shakur Jefferies are now being made.
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