HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- The large crowd of about 1,000 mourners gathered at Highland Springs High School for a vigil honoring slain student Jahiem Dickerson on Monday night. They were urged to speak out about the young man's murder.
Dickerson, 16, was shot and killed just after 12:10 a.m. Saturday on Glenwilton Drive in Henrico. His killer has not yet been arrested.
"Too many caskets have been picked out. Too many bullets in our neighborhoods. Too many mothers are yelling and screaming why my son, why my daughter," a pastor who spoke at the vigil said.
Dickerson's father called into the vigil to address those who loved his son.
"I'm my son's biggest fan and now he will be my angel," he said. "I want everybody to know that Jaheim is looking down on everyone that came to support him. I appreciate everyone in my son's life, that was good to him."
Dickerson was a sophomore who played basketball for Highland Springs. He was a member of the team that won the state title last month.
"We don't want to keep coming and doing this," Highland Springs High School principal Kenneth White said at the vigil. "You guys have so much potential."
Henrico County Supervisor Tyrone Nelson urged those in attendance to help police find the person who killed the teenager.
"I don't know who the person is, they may even be here amongst us, but if you know, say something," Nelson said.
Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor asked mourners to turn their grief into action.
"We talk about too many. I want it to be too many people that can't get into the Fairfield Library. I want it to be too many people that can't get into the Varina Library or Libbie Mill Library or wherever in this county where we start having community meetings and hearing from you," she said. "Have you help us solve this problem because not solving it is not an option."
Dickerson will be buried in his Highland Springs basketball uniform.
Anyone with information was asked to call Det. Ensor at 804-501-5794 or Crime Stoppers at 804-501-5000.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
