Family and friends mourn the Lemoore shooting victim

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The night after Thanksgiving, family and friends of 14-year-old Noah Sullivan gathered, but not to celebrate the holiday, the group remembered the young teen whose life ended too soon.

On the night of Friday, November 22 around 10:30 a.m., Lemoore Police responded to a report of gunshots in the area of ​​East Hanford Armona Road near 18th Avenue.

There they found a teenage victim whose family would later identify as Noah. He was taken to hospital where he died.

A week after his death, dozens gathered for a vigil at Heritage Park and shared stories about the teen who they said loved basketball and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Many wore matching t-shirts with #LLN on the front for Live Long Noah and on the back the words “gone but never forgotten” were surrounded by angel wings.

His eldest sister hopes people can see beyond the way he died.

“Because of what happened, people think Noah was a bad kid, but he wasn’t,” said Nya Dennis, Noah’s sister. “He was probably the sweetest, happiest, goofiest kid I ever met in my life.”

His sister Akariana, who was only a year older than Noah, described how they drove each other crazy, only in the way siblings can, but said she could never stay irritated for long.

“You would have a bad day and he would come to your room,” said Akariana Powell, Noah’s sister. “You’d be mad at him, but you’d also laugh and he’s just the kind of person who makes you laugh when you don’t feel like smiling.”

Noah spent many summers and school holidays with his grandmother in Fresno.

She said he dreamed of joining the military like his grandfather and stepfather, and always did what he could to help his family.

“Just a joy to be around,” said Tongia Sullivan, Noah’s grandmother. “He was so helpful. Anything you needed or wanted, he wanted to be able to help you and he would ask you. And he would do a good job too!”

Noah’s cousin said he not only lost a cousin, but also a friend.

“He’s basically my best cousin. We did everything together, we had fun together,” said Cordae Hunter, Noah’s cousin. “It’s tragic that I lost him and I miss him very much.”

Although Noah’s life was cut short, his aunt said it was clear Noah had an impact on his community.

“Man has influenced so many people in his little fourteen years of life, he has touched so many people,” said Natasha Threadgill, Noah’s aunt. “So it’s very heartwarming for us to know that so many people loved him.”

Noah’s funeral will be held on December 13 at 11 a.m. at Lemoore Seventh-day Adventist Church.

His death remains under investigation and police have not released a suspect. If you know anything, you are asked to call Lemoore Police.

For news updates, follow Kate Nemarich on Facebook, Tweet and Instagram.