SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Rasheed Baker wore number 44 proudly when he played football for the Jamesville-DeWitt Rams. "He always said, 'Ma, 44 is a great number. A lot of great people wore 44," said his mother Rasheada Caldwell.

Last June, another number was associated with Baker: Six. He was Syracuse's sixth homicide victim of 2017. The 21-year-old was just seven credits short of finishing his degree at Onondaga Community College when he was shot and killed. Caldwell said it happened outside their home and she was the one who found his body.

The morning of June 5, Caldwell had dropped Baker off at his new job with the county and she said he was excited. He texted her a picture of himself at his desk holding the portfolio she bought him to take notes in.

"He was like, 'Mom, I love this. I can see myself growing and being able to help people."

She said she picked him up from work that day. That evening he had misplaced his wallet and they were looking for it around the house. During that time was a moment she won't forget, he asked her to give him a hug.

"As a mom, I was joking with him, saying 'Rasheed, move, move,' and then he was like, 'Oh, I'm too big for a hug?' and I stopped and looked at him,” she recalled holding back tears. “And that was the last time I hugged him."

Caldwell added, "If I would have known that was the last time I would hug him, I would have never let go."

Five days later on June 10, what would have been his 22nd birthday, he was laid to rest.

"No mom, no sibling, no family member should feel that pain," Caldwell said.

For her, one of the hardest things is knowing someone out there has information about her son's death, but isn't coming forward. Her grief has fueled her to be even more active in the community in her search for answers. Rallies and walks have been held in her son's honor.

"We can't let killers, murderers live in our community and we say nothing,” said Caldwell. “We can't do that. What happens is they keep doing it and they keep doing it, then somebody else's baby dies."

The holidays are hard for Caldwell. All she has left of her only son are memories and pictures which she keeps all around her, including in her office.

Caldwell added, "I think about some of the things, he could have been. What would he have been if he were alive? What would he be doing?"

Rasheed Baker's death has left his mother with more questions than answers. She hopes closure will come one day soon when someone finally comes forward to answer who and why.

Caldwell has started a foundation to honor Rasheed. It's called Let Me Be Great #44. The foundation will work with Syracuse youth and help expose them to opportunities in the city and beyond.