Grieving family and friends gathered to say their last goodbyes to 15-year-old Tre’Vante Etienne on Saturday morning. Etienne — a 9th grader at the Charlotte Amalie High School — was struck by gunfire on Vester Gade in the midst of a June 12 basketball game; he died while undergoing emergency medical treatment.
Hundreds of CAHS classmates converged on the Kingdom Life Church in Contant for the funeral. A small group of the CAHS Marching Hawks sat near the stage with instruments in hand to pay tribute. The drum set and harness Tre’Vante performed with sat stacked on the floor near their seats.
Family members sat in the front rows near his casket for the final viewing; a blue softball helmet and a stuffed bear kept him company. His love of sports was made apparent by a banner hung nearby; the image of a smiling youth in a softball uniform and helmet.
In groups of twos and threes, and later by the dozens, friends, teammates and classmates paused in silent witness. Many of the mourners wore blue, including Ace — the family’s toy poodle. Bernice King Prentice, his great aunt, described Tre’Vante as a happy, obedient child. “He was full of joy,” she said.
But for a moment the joy gave way to grief. “Why? Why would anyone want to do that to a 15-year-old boy?” she said.
As the moment came to end the viewing, the family took a long moment to draw near. In the seats behind them mourners draped their arms around each other, dabbing tears away.
Interment at Western Cemetery No. 3 followed the memorial service.
