BUFFALO, N.Y. — Friends and family gathered to remember the life of Jaylen Griffin on Tuesday morning. The Buffalo teen was found dead last month, nearly four years after disappearing in Buffalo.
His death is still a mystery, as police continue to look into the cause. His father, Brian Griffin, tells 2 On Your Side's Rob Hackford he's praying for justice.
Brian Griffin says he has received a lot of support from family, friends and the City of Buffalo during this hard time.
Jaylen went missing back in 2020 and was the subject of a citywide search effort before being found dead 4-years later at a home on Scheffield Avenue. His is death being investigated as a homicide. He was just 12 years old at the time of his disappearance.
Jaylen was remembered at a service held at True Bethel Baptist Church for the life he lived and those at the service were also praying for the one he should have lived.
His father says he is still holding out for justice for his son's death, and that he won't feel closure will come until that happens.
"We need the village to stand up. We need the village to be proactive and not reactive. There's enough reaction. We need somebody on the front lines soon as they hear something, jump to action. Say something. Do something. It doesn't take you to move a train. It takes you to make a call or file a report or share information. This can't keep happening," said Kareema Morris, Executive Director of Bury the Violence.
"We still haven't got to the closure part yet. We need to find the culprit who is responsible for my son's death. But this right here, it eases the pain up a lot," said Brian Griffin, Jaylen Griffin's dad.
Griffin's dad says he remembers his son as a fun-loving kid who brought a smile to his face.
"He didn't do nothing but get up every morning and go carry groceries to patrons' cars for them just to make a couple of dollars every day. He wasn't a bad kid. He wasn't perfect either. You know, everybody has flaws, but he was my son. He's going to deeply be missed and loved," said Brian Griffin.
Again, Buffalo Police are investigating Griffin's death as a homicide. Crimestoppers WNY is still offering a reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to the arrest of the person who killed him.
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