Memorial held for youngest victim killed outside of KOK: 'Jamir was an innocent bystander'
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- The friends and family of one of the victims fatally shot outside of KOK Wings and Things remembered his life with a balloon release Wednesday evening. Jamir Carmouche was only 24 years old when he was killed.
"The kids wanted to have fun. They wanted to party, and now this. We shouldn't have to bury our children. Our children should be burying us," Carmouche's second cousin, Renee Helaire, said.
A night of fun turned into tragedy for two families Saturday night.
"Jamir was an innocent bystander at KOK. He came back down here. He's a truck driver and he came back down here to enjoy his weekend with his girlfriend," Carmouche's friend, Diamonique More, said.
Now, his girlfriend is preparing for his funeral.
"What's the reason? You have UL homecoming. Everybody is having fun, enjoying themselves. Why? We just want to know why. This was senseless for Jamir and for Corey Mouton's family as well," Helaire said.
The murders of Corey Mouton and Jamir Carmouche opened up a conversation at Carmouche's memorial.
"Put the guns down and pray. God wouldn't want us fighting like this all day, every day," Carmouche's first cousin, Kevin Carmouche, said.
Jaedyn Nelson, 14, also hopes things can change.
"I've noticed that even in my school. I notice people get in fights a lot. At my old school, I knew a lot of people who toted guns and whatnot, which is stupid. You're not even old enough to be able to own a gun, let alone use it," Nelson, who is also a family member of Carmouche, said.
As Carmouche's family tries to continue forward without him, they pray people will not forget what happened Saturday night outside of KOK.
"It affected Lafayette as a whole. Lafayette is a good community, a good place to come and have fun. Let's continue that. Put the guns down please," Helaire said.
Carmouche's family tells News 10 he allegedly did not know Corey Mouton, the other victim killed.
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