‘My baby didn’t make it to 17:’ Jacksonville teen murdered days before birthday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville teenager was murdered just more than a week before his 17th birthday.

The family identified Makye Vogel as the victim of Saturday morning’s shooting at The Avenues apartment complex in Baymeadows.

READ: Teen found dead after shooting outside of birthday party, Jacksonville police say

Makye’s mother, Heather Moorer, said he was at a birthday party with plans to sleep over. She said he stepped outside to talk to his girlfriend on the phone and that’s when he was gunned down.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has not released any suspect information, and the family is pleading with the community to step forward.

“My baby didn’t even make it to 17. Just because he walked downstairs into a driveway,” Moorer said. “My son is being laid to rest Friday. Then I have to wake up the morning I gave birth, and he’s not here.”

Makye’s 17th birthday is April 11. He left behind his mother, two brothers, and a sister who all described him as goofy and the life of the party. He previously attended Atlantic Coast High School and played football at Twin Lakes Middle School.

“I don’t know where to start. Makye is a trip. When he walks in, he’s that one person who lights up the room,” Moorer said.

She’s turning her pain into action and standing up against senseless violence. She said Makye wasn’t perfect, but she said she doesn’t understand why anyone would do this.

“In this day in age, there’s no child perfect. Everybody’s family is going through things,” she said. “With him, it’s given me the strength that I’m going to make sure this damn violence stops with children and guns.”

The family set up a GoFundMe to help with finances that you can find HERE.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.