Memorial held for 22-month-old killed in drive-by shooting

On Friday, the community came together to remember a toddler killed in a drive-by shooting. A memorial was held for 22-month-old Aiden McClendon.

On January 29, Aiden was shot in a drive-by.

It’s a murder that has outraged the community. Aiden was caught in the crossfire of gang violence. An act that breaks the heart of AJ Jordan, Vice President of MADDADS Jacksonville.

“Shooting into a car! They don’t know what they’re shooting at and they killed a 22-month-old baby,” Jordan said.

Police say Aiden wasn’t the target but the shooting itself was gang-related.

Aiden was shot multiple times. He was in a car with his mother and grandmother when the drive-by shooting happened on Jacksonville’s Eastside near the intersection of Spearing and Albert streets.

For several days, police searched for clues. At time, they even used lasers for measurements. One day, State Attorney Angela Corey even visited the scene. But still, there are no answers as to who pulled the trigger.

“Say forget a code. This is about a 22-month-old baby that was shot to death. He didn’t get a chance to play little-league basketball, football, soccer. Didn’t get a chance to go to school and eat his lunch on the playground with the other kids,” Jordan said.

A code of silence that even a $20,000 reward hasn’t been able to break. As a result, on Saturday, Jordan and others will walk the streets asking for people to share what they know. A continued plea for answers that goes on while tonight people gathered to say their goodbyes to boy taken too soon.

Funeral services for Aiden will be held Saturday at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church. The service will start at 12 p.m.

MAD DADS will canvas the Eastside Saturday for information in Aiden's death. The group will meet at 11 a.m. at the corner of Spearing and Albert streets.

Cox Media Group