Candlelight memorial vigil held for West Philly teen

WEST PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - The community mourned and remembered a teen who was found dead atop of a SEPTA train last week.

Outside of the school in West Philly where Reakwon spent his freshman year, friends, family and teachers gathered for a candlelight memorial vigil.

"It's very traumatic. Our staff is having a hard time with it as well. The students were having a hard time. They reached out to us. They are the ones who put this together. We are here to support them. He was very well-loved," Principal at the Crossroads Accelerated Academy Kim Grahn said.

15-year-old Reakwon Jones died early Friday morning. Officials say he was electrocuted atop of a SEPTA Regional Rail Train. His body discovered on the roof of the rail car at Jefferson Station in Center City. News of his death spread throughout the school which attended last year. Students felt that had to do something to share their grief.

"It's really, really hard. I was second guessing if I could come here today, but I still did because we were all very close to him and shared good memories," friend Shannon Diego said.

The teen's mother and siblings, aunts and uncles were invited to the vigil and carried dozens of balloons. They hugged, they cried, lit candles, and they listened to stories about Reakwon.

"His brother and sister, they are mourning hard, everybody is hurting," mother Jeannette Jones said.

Hurting that a teen with an infectious smile and a fascination with trains would die so suddenly and tragically.