HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A black ribbon now encircles a Class of 2024 yard sign memorializing the third oldest of Braxton Coles’ eight grandchildren.
"Jarvon Christopher Coles. It's, you know, unreal," Braxton Coles told us Tuesday as he tried to wrap his head around the shooting death of the grandson who was loved by so many.
Jarvon lived with his grandparents not far from North Shore High School where he played football and was an 'A' student. His bedroom is adorned with sports trophies. We even saw his 2021 state championship ring.
"Sometimes I come in here and sit, you know?” Braxton told us. "We have had teachers, administrators, coaches, everybody come by, telling stories about Jarvon.”
A group of fellow football players stopped in during our visit.
"This has showed me that, although Jarvon was ours, he was everybody’s,” the grieving grandfather said.
Harris County Sheriff’s investigators said the 18-year-old was fatally shot in Humble late Saturday during a party inside a short-term rental. At least one gunman opened fire on the crowd from a block away.
So far, no arrests have been made.
"You know, if you are the one, turn yourself in," Braxton said. "How can you sleep knowing what you took?”
He said Jarvon, who first put on pads at age seven. was a two-time, first-team all-district linebacker who also excelled in academics.
The pair recently visited Lamar University in Beaumont where Jarvon planned to pursue his passion.
"He was like a light in the tunnel," Braxton said. "Everybody loved him, he had absolutely no enemies and it’s just beyond my comprehension that something like this would happen.”
Friends and family will gather outside Galena Park ISD stadium on Wednesday at 4 p.m. for a balloon release and vigil.
Anyone with information on the shooting death of Jarvon Coles should call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).