Vigil held for bicyclist shot, killed

Family, friends gather at scene of shooting

AJ McGawely

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The loved ones of an 18-year-old man who was shot and killed while riding his bike earlier this month gathered Thursday evening to remember him and to help bring justice for his family.

AJ McGawely was shot in the chest a week ago while riding his bike on Carleon Road, off Lem Turner road.

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A memorial was put on at Carleon Road after McGawely's death. Friends, family, former classmates and teachers gathered at that location Thursday not only to remember him, but also to continue bringing awareness to the fact that whoever shot and killed him has not been caught.

"This has really been something really tragic to the children just as well as the teachers and I know the kids were just discombobulated," said Linda Dayson, president of Hurting Families with Children and Crime.

Dayson said McGawely was a very well known young man at school and around his neighborhood. Dayson is hoping the community can help bring justice to McGawely's family.

He was shot and killed while riding his bike on Carleon Road in Northwest Jacksonville the night of June 6, and there has yet to be an arrest in the case.

"They may think that they have gotten away, but they never get away," Dayson said. "You may have gotten by that particular night or maybe today, but you have not gotten away at all."

The vigil was in an effort to bring some closure to the people who knew McGawely. Dayson also hopes the vigil will encourage people to come forward to police if they have any information about what happened the night McGawely was killed.

"I'm just asking whoever you are, just please go ahead and turn yourself in, because me, myself and others, we are praying that God allow him or them to be so convicted that they feel so guilty and just can not bare it," Dayson said.

The vigil will take place at the scene of the shooting on Carleon Road off Lem Turner Road in Northwest Jacksonville. The vigil is open to the public.