VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 100 athletes and spectators packed Princess Anne High School on Sunday afternoon to watch some basketball. But everyone in the gym had one person on their mind and heart.
Mia Payne is the mother of Carter Strong. Carter was killed earlier this year after someone accidentally shot him at a friend's house.
“They were going to go to a Norfolk State basketball game," Payne said. "And they decided to look at the mom's gun and they're playing around with the gun and the gun unfortunately went off and one of my son's closest friends shot my son accidentally with a gun.”
Carter is one of the many young victims of gun violence in Virginia Beach. It's why organizers Greg Montgomery and Michael Hammond -- better known as Juuphe -- put this event together.
“Carter, He played in our league. So gun violence, we decided man, kids at the school, why not the fellowship and bring them all together and have a youth game," Hammond said.
Gathering together some of the top under-14 talent in the area, they know every life saved is worth more than any number on the scoreboard.
"It keeps them in safe environments. Like, if they're not playing sports, if they're not at our league, there's no telling what they would be doing on a Saturday or Sunday,” Montgomery said.
Payne is thankful for events like this one. She said it helps keep the memory of her son alive.
"I like to think that my son gives me strength and gives us all strength,” Payne said. "He was such a light. He is still such a light and his impact will live on forever."