More than 1,000 people showed up for the funeral of Jaylon McKenzie on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral.
Photos by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Members of the East St. Louis High School varsity football team carry the casket of Jaylon McKenzie to his grave at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fairview Heights on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Family members of Jaylon McKenzie watch as doves are released in his honor at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fairview Heights on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Thomas Maravel, 14, stands out the room where the body of his friend Jaylon McKenzie lays in an open casket before his funeral at the Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies in Bellville on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. "I've know him since 4th grade" said Thomas who is wearing a shirt with a picture of Jaylon on it. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
People line up to sign a guest book for Jaylon McKenzie before his funeral at the Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies in Bellville on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
More than 1,000 people showed up for the funeral of Jaylon McKenzie at the Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies in Bellville on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Dancers Belleville West High School perform during the funeral for Jaylon McKenzie at the Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies in Bellville on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
More than 1,000 people showed up for the funeral of Jaylon McKenzie at the Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies in Bellville on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Condolences fill up a poster of Jaylon McKenzie put out for mourners to sign before Jaylon's funeral at the Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies in Bellville on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Family and friends of Jaylon McKenzie watch as doves are released in his honor after his body was buried at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fairview Heights on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Family members of Jaylon McKenzie watch as doves are released in his honor at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fairview Heights on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Members of the East St. Louis High School varsity football team carry the casket of Jaylon McKenzie to his grave at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fairview Heights on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Funeral for Jaylon McKenzie
Family and friends of Jaylon McKenzie watch as doves are released in his honor after his body was buried at Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fairview Heights on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Jaylon, 14, an 8th-grade football phenom recently featured in Sports Illustrated, was killed by a stray bullet after a fight broke out at a party in Venice, Ill. on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Police have not yet charged anyone for firing the bullet that killed Jaylon. Ezekiel Elliott, who grew up in the St. Louis area and is a star running back in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, offered to help Jaylon's family by paying for the funeral. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
