BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Police are investigating the shooting of a 16-year-old boy left dead on a front yard early Monday.
Blue Springs police officers found Colby Stephenson near Northwest 6th street and NW Duncan Road just before 2 a.m. while responding to a report of shots fired.
"Colby didn't deserve to die this way,” Michelle Stephenson, his mother said at a vigil Monday.
She told 41 Action News that police have told her at least two people pulled up in a car and ambushed her teenage son.
"I'm in disbelief for a 16-year-old kid that did absolutely nothing, who has never been in any trouble,” Lori Grove, a family friend said.
Grove watched Stephenson grow from a little boy to a young man.
"He could just walk in when he wanted and feed himself if he wanted. That's how he was. He was like a son to me and a brother to my daughter,” Grove said
Stephenson was a student at Blue Springs High School, aspiring to become a doctor, his mother said.
"He used to run around this whole city everybody knew him and loved him. He's funny. Now, he's gone,” Grove said.
On Monday evening, more than 100 of Stephenson's classmates, friends, and family gathered at Rotary Park for a candlelight vigil and a balloon release with a frank message.
"We live by this creed, 'don't snitch, don't this, don't that.' You guys are young. Y'all can speak up and do what's right. You can do the right thing,” said a mother to the crowd at the vigil. "I hope somebody, when they go to bed tonight, really thinks about the loss this family has taken and decides to do the right thing and calls somebody.”
Police have not released a description of suspects.
“This is an active investigation with very little that can be released at this time,” Jennifer Dachenhausen, a Blue Springs Police Department spokeswoman wrote in a press release Monday.
If you know anything about this fatal shooting call Blue Springs Police at 816-228-0151 or the KC Crimestoppers Hotline 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Stephenson's family has established a GoFundMe campaign for funeral expenses, to help visit: https://www.gofundme.com/help-raise-funds-4-colby-stephenson
