MILWAUKEE — Family, friends, and community members gathered Saturday at Hart Park to honor 15-year-old Makai Neal, a football player found dead after a car fire last week.
Milwaukee police responded near 26th and Locust on Monday, Feb. 10, just before 10:30 p.m., and the Milwaukee Fire Department confirmed one fatality in a car fire.
Police ruled the death a homicide, and on Thursday, Feb. 13, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office determined the victim was a 15-year-old boy.
On Monday, Feb. 17, officials identified him as Makai Kenith Neal.
At a vigil on Saturday, family and loved ones embraced while sharing fond memories of the teen.
Neal's youth football coach, Calvin Sherrod of MVO Game Changers — a youth football organization — has known Neal for four years.
“Makai had that gift. He was just a special kid — like a magnet. Even when he wasn’t feeling confident, he was still a leader,” Sherrod said.
Many on Saturday remembered Neal as a star football player, proudly wearing the number eight and hoping to make it in the big leagues.
“He had offer letters to be a quarterback at very prestigious schools,” Montreal Cain, Neal’s mentor, shared.
Check out: Loved ones remember 15-year-old football player found dead in car fire
Cain, the executive director of MERA Cares, also knew Neal off the field.
“Makai attended church with us, he did community service with us, he was learning multimedia, he was a dynamic child,” Cain said with a smile.
Amid song and prayer, those who knew Neal also asked for answers and justice as Milwaukee Police (MPD) investigated his death as a homicide,
“I’ve had some very difficult nights. I’ve cried a lot because Makai did not deserve to go out like that, especially knowing how young he was and how much promise he had. I wish he had a better outcome,” Cain said.
MPD said the investigation is ongoing. TMJ4 News reached out for an update Saturday afternoon to see if anyone was in custody but did not hear back.
In the meantime, those who knew Neal best are doing everything they can to keep his name and number alive.
“Any uniforms we do, we’ll put number eight just to honor him,” Sherrod said.
Neal’s family said monetary donations can be sent to Signature Service Mortuary, 4065 N. 35th St., Milwaukee, WI 53216.
For more information, contact signatureservicemortuary@gmail.com or call 414-616-1602.
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