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Family demands justice after teen killed in suburban West Palm Beach

Posted at 7:05 PM, Jan 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-15 04:35:04-05

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A mother is grieving the loss of her only son, 17-year-old Mo Allen Charles, who was shot and killed early Sunday morning.

His aunt Willnae Lacroix said, "He just wanted to make people happy. He's not one of those kids that walks around upset or in a mood, he's always just smiling."

Family members say Saturday night Mo and his friends went to a Sweet 16 birthday party. They say there was some type of altercation with another group of teens. After the party, Mo's family says he went to Lake Belvedere Estates Park.

By 12:30 a.m., deputies were responding to 911 calls of a shooting. Mo and his 16-year-old friend were killed. A third person is expected to survive.

"What I will miss most about him is when I'm mad at him, he would come to the door and touching my head, like it's OK dad, it's OK dad and start to smile," his father Moltere Charles said.

Family members say he wanted to go to college and play basketball.

His school principal at Riviera Beach Preparatory Academy, Mark Simmonds, said, "No one on this campus had anything negative to say about him. When I addressed my faculty today, everyone teared up."

His father said "We love him so much. I can't believe somebody do that to us."

The sheriff's office says they are investigating the motive for the shooting. PBSO says they cannot confirm whether what happened at the party was connected to the shooting. Anyone with information should call the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office or CrimeStoppers.

The family says their son Mo had gotten into trouble with the law in the past, but was trying to turn his life around.