Friends and family gather to remember teen

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of people showed up outside a West Charlotte church Wednesday night for a vigil to honor a slain 13-year-old boy.

Police said Khalil Cousart was shot and killed by a close friend, 16-year-old Damien Wright, early Tuesday morning.

About 300 people attended the vigil, and tensions were high from the very beginning. Eyewitness News talked with several people who said they were afraid there would be violence during the vigil.

People crowded onto a church lawn, steps away from where Khalil lost his life, and spilled over into the streets.

"Everybody loved him. He knew a lot of people," said Latoya Abraham, a friend. "This is real emotional. It's like losing your own kid."

Eyewitness News witnessed a scuffle where several people were pushed and shoved, but ultimately no punches were thrown.

"I had a wonderful son, I just want to let everybody know that," said Antwain Lockart, Khalil's father.

Lockart said he's still in shock over the death of his son, and believes Wright didn't mean to kill his son.

"He's got to go to jail. He did a crime, so he got to go to jail," Lockhart said. "But not forever."

Khalil's father said parents need to step up and do a better job of stopping the violence between young adults.

Dozens of balloons were released into the air near Tuckaseegee Road to remember Khalil, a bright and charismatic teenager who loved school and was excited to study computers in college.

Lockhart said there was a street fight early Tuesday morning, and Wright was trying to protect Khalil by showing off his gun, and instead accidentally killed him.

"I ain't got nothing bad to say about him. Stuff happens. This is real. I mean, I would like an apology from him," he said.

WSOC