TAMPA, Fla. — Family and friends of 16-year-old Peter "PJ" Hyman, Jr. will honored his life at a vigil Sunday.
Hyman was killed in a shooting outside Citrus Park Town Center mall earlier this month.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has since arrested 15-year-old Samuel Oquendo shot and killed Hyman Jr. after a “slapboxing” match outside the mall escalated into violence.
Oquendo is being charged as an adult facing second degree homicide charges. Officials said he’s already appeared in juvenile court, but it could take a couple of weeks before his first appearance in adult court.
Hyman Jr.’s mother, Bianca Cooper, said she is relieved an arrest was made, but said her son had much more to give.
“My heart is heavy, but it’s not as heavy,” she said. “I feel like he’ll be able to rest in peace now that we’ve found who this person is. He just was full of life, and he had so much of his life ahead of him, and he was going to be something great."
The vigil was held tonight at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.