CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Into the evening Friday, Jabbar Gatewood Sr. sat scrolling through pictures on his phone, each with its own memory of his son Jabbar.
The 13-year-old was struck and killed on Remount Road Saturday while riding his bike just minutes from his home.
Gatewood Jr. was traveling behind a car in the southbound lane and turned left in front of an SUV, when he was hit. The driver, Benjamin McPherson, was charged with driving without a license, according to officers.
“It's a hurt that no one can describe unless you've been through it,” his father said. “It's just a tragic, tragic accident.”
Hundreds flooded the street Thursday where Gatewood was struck with many people on motorcycles which Gatewood loved while others releasing blue balloons, his favorite color.\
“That goes to show you how many lives he touched while here on this earth.” said Gatewood Sr. of the memorial.
“They showed up, and they showed out,” he said.
Jabbar developed a growing passion for bikes and had even learned to repair them.
His father said the Sedgefield Middle School student would often fix bikes for neighborhood friends and was headed home from the store after buying a new part, the day he died.
Gatewood’s funeral service is scheduled for Saturday morning at Park Road Baptist Church.