Local leaders and loved ones of 16-year-old Kyan King gathered on the front steps of Harrisburg High School’s John Harris Campus on Sunday evening in response to his death the day before.
The man arrested in the shooting, 45-year-old Orlando P. Duarte, is a registered sex offender. Witnesses told PennLive that King was running away from Duarte and shouting for help moments before gunshots rang out.
On Sunday, trying to get people together for a candlelight vigil became a priority for school officials such as school board member Carrie Fowler. King went from being a student preparing for his first day of school on Monday to a victim of incomprehensible violence.
Fowler said some of her colleagues couldn’t sleep while trying to process what happened, and they collectively decided that they had to do something to honor King as soon as possible.
Members of King’s family, including his sisters Nyairrea Jones and Tearra King, were present at the memorial and spoke about how the family is handling the loss and outpouring of support from their city.
“It’s actually amazing seeing so many people reach out. It’s nice having so much support,” Jones said. “We weren’t expecting so much support from the community but we really do appreciate it.”
With parts of the shooting making it online in real-time, Jones said it has been hard on her otherwise private family to deal with the negative comments that have been posted or said about it.
“Honestly we’re just trying not to address any of the stories. We have been reading lots of different theories. We’re bypassing them,” Jones said.
Police have not commented on the situation leading up to the shooting or how King knew the shooter.
Their cousin, Destiny Williams, said anyone who is focusing on whatever connection King has with Duarte is focusing on the wrong thing.
“What happened is, a family lost a loved one. At the end of the day, there are people grieving. There’s a family that has to come together,” Williams said. “They’re a private family that had a surreal incident happen to them, so just keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
Tearra King brought up the need to check in with the people you love to make sure they are OK.
“If they don’t come home, give them a call,” she said. “I didn’t pay enough attention to him and most siblings don’t pay enough attention to their youngest siblings.”
To Fowler and Harrisburg School District Superintendent Chris Celmer, the priority is now to make sure that the school community helps students process their grief and also protect them from any violence or mistreatment going on in their lives.
“As a survivor of sexual assault as a child, it affects me in a totally different way. It’s been very hard to process this. I can’t stress enough: If you see something say something,” Fowler said. “Our children live predominantly in a certain area in the city. When you see a child walking down the street, engage with that child. Talk to that child. Ask them how their day is. Look them in the eye. We need to be more vigilant.”
- READ: Homicide charges filed against registered sex offender accused of fatally shooting boy in Harrisburg
Celmer said he sent an email to district staff on Sunday to remind them about the importance of their mandatory reporting duties, even if it’s more difficult with remote learning.
“We need to be sure even if something seems so minor, not to take it for granted that it is. Report it and let the proper authorities investigate it because we can take nothing for granted during this time and during the future,” he said. “Our staff cares deeply about all the children in the Harrisburg School District and I just wanted them to be at a heightened awareness.”
In the aftermath of King’s death, there have been calls for changes and awareness about sex offenders and their presence in the city. Activists already are arranging marches and other events to get the community involved.
Jones said many of her family members want to get involved, but they are waiting while trying to process what happened.
“But you know waiting doesn’t help because there’s the next kid that could be watched by some predator,” she said. “So waiting doesn’t really help, but it’s emotional so we’re just trying to take a little time to gather our bearings.”
Until then, the family is working on arranging King’s funeral and their next steps. A GoFundMe for King’s funeral expenses already has raised thousands of dollars from the community.
A march is being planned by other community activists for Saturday, starting at 18th and Forster where the shooting occurred, to the Capitol steps. The goal will be to raise awareness about violence against children.
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