"He's gone. This is all I have of my son. This is all I have of my son," said Rhonda Cook Hayden, Niko Santana's mother.

It's been three months since 18-year-old Niko Santana was shot and killed. 

"The last words my son said to me were, 'Mom, call 911. I've been shot," said Cook Hayden.

Niko and his close friend Dwight Murray had a gun in his bedroom on Shonnard Street. 

Investigators say the gun accidentally went off hitting Niko.

He later died at the hospital. 

"He was my world. He was my everything," said Cook Hayden.

Police arrested Dwight in the accidental shooting.

He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree and criminal possession of a firearm.

Thursday morning in court, Dwight pleaded not guilty.

Niko's mother Rhonda says she believes the shooting was truly an accident.

She said, "My son is just as wrong as Dwight, no more, no less. They both are wrong for having that damn gun, but stand up and stick to your statement."

Rhonda says the only reason Dwight and Niko had the gun was because they were threatened earlier that day. 

She says the fact that they felt the need to have a gun only speaks to a larger problem, not just with recent school shootings, but violence in local communites among youth.

"Here where I live, that's happening almost every single day and we ain't in school. Some are being targeted by other kids just becuase of the streets that they hang on. Our community leaders need to step up and take responsibility for their community...Our children are our future and if they're dying than we do not have a future," said Cook Hayden.

Although it cost her son's life, Rhonda says she's still committed to seeing positive change.

To Dwight she says, "Maybe that was my son's purpose in life was to be Dwight's teacher...I will stand behind you. I will walk this journey with you, but you need to stand up for your responsibility in this. My son did. He paid the ultimate price. He paid with his life. I still love him like a son. He's my baby too."