SEATTLE — For the first time in the five months since the deadly shooting at Ingraham High School in Seattle, the family of the student that was killed is speaking out.
Nearly a hundred people showed up Wednesday to the candlelight vigil and march to honor Ebenezer Haile, 17, and to bring an end to gun violence. Haile was killed in the halls of Ingraham High on the morning of November 8th.
“I wish he can hear me; I wish he can see what kind of change we try to make,” said Hannah Eshete, Haile's aunt.
Eshete said Ebenezer was one of the kindest and most caring people you could meet.
“He was my company, he was everything, he was my little brother, he’s my comforter,” said Eshete.
Wednesday’s mile-long march and candlelight vigil on the corner of Aurora and 130th Street consisted of chanting and wishes and what-ifs.
“I wish he hear his aunty. I wish he waited for me until July. I wish I could have saved his life,” said Eshete.
Ebenezer’s mother, at times overcome with grief told KING 5 off-camera she appreciates the support from the community.
“Just to wake up and not having him next to her,” said Eshete. “He was all her life. She went through a lot with him up and down, you know 17 years is not easy.”
The family believes Ingraham High and schools nationwide need to do more to prevent other families from feeling this pain.
“We need a metal detector; we need a police officer, and we need safety,” said Eshete. “We need quick action.”
Eshete said they may never have closure, but they will never stop fighting to keep Ebenezer's name alive.
“We have to be a voice for Ebenezer, we have to keep his legacy and we will fight, I don’t care how long it will take, but I want to fight, and I want all children who go to school to be safe,” said Eshete.
Both cases are still ongoing for the 14-year-old and 15-year-old allegedly involved in Ebenezer’s death.