OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Friends and family gathered Saturday afternoon to honor, remember and celebrate the life of A'moni Young.
She was shot and killed Monday.
A'moni was only 13 years old. Her birthday is today, July 20th. Friends and family say her life was taken too soon, but they will never forget the joy she brought to everyone around her.
Five days before her 14th birthday, A'moni Young's life was taken from her after she was shot and killed.
"She just she had a bright future, could do anything she wanted to do," Belle Laskey, aunt said.
Many family members described her personality as infectious.
"She was a free spirit person," Shannette Young, mother said. "She loved to just hang out with her friends, listen to music, play with her brother."
They have plenty of things to remember her by, but the top one is her smile, and her laugh.
A 15-year-old has been charged for shooting and killing A'moni. Family wants to get a message out to the youth.
"I absolutely want to send a message to the youth to make sure that you are doing things that align with who you really are and your purpose," Laskey said. "Do the things that you love and enjoy doing and don't get mixed up with the wrong crowd."
Balloons were soaring through the sky on A'moni's 14th birthday.
While she is no longer with them, family and friends will continue to carry on her name and legacy, cherishing the moments they had together.
"Happy birthday, we love you," multiple family members said.
Family members told me they plan on getting everyone together continuously to keep her name alive, but to also keep family together because that is what A'moni would have wanted.