Friends mourn loss of TSST classmate

Monday, February 13th 2006, 3:33 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Police are still searching for suspects in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old high school football player. It happened at about 2 AM Saturday outside the Lacy Park Recreation Center.

Students at TSST are now trying to deal with the tragic loss of a teammate and good friend.

News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin talks with several of his friends.

"To lose someone so precious is hard to cope with, it was not that long ago we were smiling and laughing at all the things he did." Carlisha Mayfield is one of several students sharing their grief by writing a letter to Johnny Young's parents. "He didn't deserve it, Johnny was an outgoing person, down to earth, loved by everybody, if you knew him, you knew he kept people laughing, he was cool with everybody, everybody loved Johnny."

It happened in the early morning hours, after a post-game party. Young and several other teens were standing in the recreation center parking lot when shots rang out. Young was struck with a bullet in the head; one police say was fired from about 70 yards away. Leading them to believe, Johnny likely wasn't the intended target.

Carlisha Mayfield: "Johnny never really went to any parties, that's why I don't understand why they'd wanna do something like that to him." Another friend, Michael Phillips: â€œthe Johnny I knew? I was really shocked that this happened."

Friends say one of the places Young was happiest when he was on the football field. Being on the field was also a dream come true for his father, the coach. Young played offensive and defensive tackle for the Titans, under the watchful eye of his Dad also a TSST teacher.

The family is active in their church, Johnny in the youth ministry. Michael Phillips: "He was very competitive on the field, off the field he was a good friend. He kept everyone in good spirits, when you were around him, you couldn't be down." Carlisha Mayfield: "Coach Young, I know he's taking it real hard right now. I just wish the best for the family and want to pray for them. I just don't understand, he didn't have to die."

Kids who were at the party told the News on 6, there wasn't any kind of fight there and Tulsa Police at this point do not know what sparked the shooting at the location yards away from the recreation center.

They're hoping someone who knows how it happened will call, even anonymously, with the information on the Crimestoppers hotline at 596-COPS.