COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A family is grieving after a 14-year-old boy was shot and killed early Saturday in Franklinton.  

The Columbus Division of Police is still working to determine who is responsible.  

The boy’s family held a candlelight vigil for the boy, whose full name was Braiden Anthony Ray Johnson, but those close to him called him Ray. Dozens of people turned out to pay their respects.

Police said that just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, officers were alerted to a shooting on Dana Avenue in the Franklinton section of the city; the victim was found there. Police said several people at the scene were detained and a family member rushed Ray Johnson to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

“My brother, he was really the glue to the family,” Ray Johnson’s sister, who did not want to be named, said. “Now that he’s gone, it’s kind of hard for me, just trying to be there for each other. He was really into laughter. He made everybody happy. He could make anybody laugh.”

A neighbor who wanted to remain anonymous said she was shaken by the incident. 

“It’s very scary to have something like that happen in front of your home and stuff, but it does weigh on my heart very heavily that it was a 14-year-old boy,” she said. “I would see them play basketball here and stuff like that.” 

As the sun set Monday, candles were lit and the posters were hung, many of them filled with pictures of Johnson and messages that read, “Long Live Ray,” and “Forever Ray’s World.”

“His favorite things was Takis, cream soda, sour gushers, he just love snacks,” his sister said. “He loves food. He definitely didn’t deserve this.” 

Brenda Johnson (no relation) lost her son to gun violence several years ago; she now uses her story as a community activist, something she did Monday at a local school where she spoke with fifth-eighth grade students about the dangers of gun violence. 

“We just have to stop it and, like, speaking to the youth and telling them my stories and my grandkids stories just, like, it really touches home because my grandkids are the same age as them, so they put themselves in my grandkids’ shoes,” Brenda Johnson said.  

She and her husband were awake and heard the sirens Saturday night. 

“I have two 14-year-old grandkids, so putting myself in nurse shoes, I couldn’t imagine, and that night that had happened, my husband and I were up late because we were remodeling, and we heard all the sirens going by and we both knew it wasn’t good. It was a lot,” Brenda Johnson said.  

Family members said Ray Johnson was shot inside the home.

Police said two people were arrested in connection to the shooting. However, they did not specify charges, saying the case will be presented to the Franklin County prosecutor’s office.

The family is asking for space and respect at this time as they navigate life without their loved one.

“We trying to grieve together as a family,” Ray Johnson’s sister said.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs for Ray Johnson. Information can be found by clicking here.