A teenager who was randomly murdered last month appeared in person at his memorial on Sunday – propped up as if he was playing Xbox and eating junk food. Renard Matthews was shot dead aged 18 while walking his dog in New Orleans in an apparently senseless robbery for his mobile phone.
But his family decided instead of an open coffin they would commemorate the youngster doing what he loved, WDSU reported.
So they created a display at the Charbonnet Labat Glapion Funeral Home on Sunday which was themed around his love for basketball team the Boston Celtics.
His body was propped up in a chair in a mocked up lounge with an Xbox controller in his hands.
Renard wore his favourite clothes, a Boston Celtics jersey and Celtics socks while sporting a pair of sunglasses.
Nearby were his favourite snacks – cereal, Barq’s Root Beer and Doritos.
All the while a basketball game was playing on a giant TV.
Renard’s mum Temeka said her son liked to stay at home and only recently started to venture out more after she bought him a dog.
The teen was reportedly gunned down while walking his pet near his home on June 25.
Nearby were his favourite snacks – cereal, Barq’s Root Beer and Doritos.
All the while a basketball game was playing on a giant TV.
Renard’s mum Temeka said her son liked to stay at home and only recently started to venture out more after she bought him a dog.
The teen was reportedly gunned down while walking his pet near his home on June 25.
He was shot in the head and his phone taken, according to the Times-Picayune.
While the memorial seems bizarre in a Western country, the practice is the norm in some parts of the world.
