BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Bishop Timon community paid their respects to Paul Humphrey during a prayer service held outside the high school on Monday morning.
Humphrey, 17, was shot and killed early Saturday morning in Buffalo's Schiller Park neighborhood at Briscoe Avenue near Walden Avenue. One other boy, 15, was also hurt in the shooting and was released by the hospital this weekend. Buffalo Police are investigating the shooting and have not announced any arrests.
He was remembered fondly by the hundreds of people in attendance including his football coach, Joe Licata, and principal, James Newton.
"There's nothing in any manual to teach you how to deal with this stuff," Licata said.
Humphrey was remembered as a jokester on the team who brought players together with not just his play on the field as a linebacker, running back and slot receiver, but also his personality, especially his smile.
"His smile will always be there," he said. "We're going to put his number on our helmets this year and his initials on our jersey. He's going to be with us."
The "2gether" motto will also expand as a motto at the school during the year.
"We want to make sure we remember Paul in a positive way," Newton said. "We want to remember his smile. When I used to see him in the hallways, he was always respectful and responsible."
Humphrey will be laid to rest on Friday at Forest Lawn Cemetery. At his mother Shirley's request, Humphrey will be buried with his No. 2 white football jersey. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $4,000 for the family.
"That right there is very telling and speaks to the power of his brotherhood here and the connections he made with his teammates and coaches and everyone else," an emotional Licata said. "