PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (CBS) – Dozens of students graduated from Freire Charter High School on Monday without one of their classmates, a boy who was killed in a drive-by shooting three years ago.
Antonio Walker was 15 years old when he was shot in March 2021 while walking in southwest Philadelphia.
“Antonio was not the intended target at all,” he said Nydisha Williams, Antonio’s mother. “It was gang related stuff. Antonio just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Williams accepted her son’s diploma on his behalf during the graduation ceremony at the Dell Music Center. She said it was an emotional moment.
“Very grateful that we could be part of the graduation ceremony, but of course very sad because I want nothing more than for my son to be here,” Williams said.
The school presented an $8,000 scholarship to one of Antonio’s classmates to honor his memory.
“It means a lot to me knowing that Antonio was one of my best friends growing up,” said Alanna Walker-Kegler, who received the scholarship. She plans to study criminal justice at Widener University. “It just touches me, and I really appreciate it.”
The grant was created by one of Williams’ friends, Christopher Cieri, who collected donations from small businesses.
“I am so honored and proud to be here today to honor Antonio’s spirit,” said Cieri. “We would all prefer Antonio to be here, of course, but it’s great to honor him and his spirit with a scholarship.”
Madeleine Wright
