The father of a 15-year-old boy who was found dead last night in a Stadsstraat said he was not ready “to fully understand this devastating loss.”
Amen Teklay was found seriously injured in Glasgow on Wednesday evening. Emergency services were present, but the schoolboy died of his injuries.
With a wake for his son on Sunday, Teklay's father insisted on the collected community to 'work together to ensure that this no longer happens'.
The grieving parent, who fled to Scotland with his family like Eritrean refugees, was unable to tackle the crowds directly and explained that he needed time to process his grief.
Instead, community support worker Jamie O'Neill, who had collaborated with the teenager in his local Knightswood neighborhood, read an explanation for his father.
He said: 'This city is our home, and it is only by working together that we can make it safer for everyone.
“Let's find justice for Amen and make our city safer for everyone.”
'We were gathered today in sorrow and mourning for the tragic and unexpected loss of my son, Amen, who was proudly a member of this community.
'We are all still in shock and none of us is ready to fully understand this devastating loss.
Amen Teklay, 15, died after he was found with serious injuries in a Glasgow Street
Members of the community gathered on a wake for Amen
'Amen was a remarkable young man, loved by everyone who knew him, and it breaks our heart that such a tragedy has taken place. This should not happen to anyone. '
The statement continued: 'We lost our son, but it is important to remember that one or more lives will be influenced by the loss of Amen.
'His death is not only a tragedy for our family, but also a tragedy for the responsible person or people. This cycle of violence must be stopped. '
The speech was given to the crowd with a wake arranged by Teklay's colleagues at the Charity Charity Kingsway Community Connections.
Family members and friends gathered on a football field where the teenager had played and campaigned to save redevelopment a few years earlier.
Some of the assembled young people wore T-shirts with the image of Teklay and reading the words 'Forever 15'.
They explained that they had designed the tops, which were available to buy at the monument, to raise money for their friend's funeral.
After a moment of silence, crowds brought balloons into the air muffled applause.
Leading the monument, Mr O'Neill emphasized that the event was an opportunity for his community to celebrate the life of Teklay, and outlined possible plans to rename the park in honor of him.
He said: 'This wake is an opportunity for so many different people who loved Amen to come together to think about his life and to share in that love and energy.
“Whether we make a park or then devote a bench, this is the start of something: we continue to meet and speak so that these young people can visually see that this is your community.”
The monument comes after the Scotland police have revealed that a 15-year-old has been arrested and a 14-year-old has been charged with the death of Teklay.
Tribute was laid out to the teenager by friends and family
The 14-year-old boy will appear on Monday at Glasgow Sheriff Court, where the police deal with the death of Amen as murder.
Mr O'Neill warned the collected community against speculation on social media, and emphasized that this could endanger a process.
Common councilor Malcolm Mitchell added: 'There is nothing that we can ultimately say that the family will offer enough comfort. Amen touched so many people in such a short life. '
Detective Chief Inspector Campbell Jackson said: 'Our thoughts stay with Amen's family and friends in this very difficult time. I also want to thank the community for their support so far.
“Our research goes further and I would ask everyone who may have information that could help us and who has not yet emerged to contact us.”
Superintendent Christopher Stewart said: 'We continue to support the Amen family and continue to come into contact with the local community that is affected by this incident.
“There will be a visible presence in the field of police in the area and I would encourage everyone with questions or worries to approach a local officer – they are there to help.”
