Mom of 14-Year-Old Shot 18 Times Waiting for Bus Doesn't Care About 'Justice'

Desiree Goodson, the mother of 14-year-old Samir Jefferson, is mourning the loss of her son and said she doesn't care about "justice" or "retaliation" for his death because it won't bring him back.

Samir was shot 18 times in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon while waiting for a bus to take him home after school. His death comes as Philadelphia faces one of its deadliest years for homicides, and police aren't confident they can put a stop to the violence that led to the fatal shooting of the 14-year-old.

"Whatever it was that drove what happened yesterday afternoon, we may never be able to stop that, cause there were people that were intentionally going to take a young man's life," Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Investigations Ben Naish told local news station WTXF.

Samir's family told WTXF the 14-year-old messaged someone a video of a fight about 15 minutes before he was killed. At the time of the shooting, the 14-year-old was waiting at a bus stop in North Philadelphia around 3:30 p.m. when two unknown men got out of their car, approached him and began firing.

The shooters are believed to have fired at least 36 shots, striking Samir 18 times. He collapsed on the sidewalk and was pronounced dead after being transported to Temple University Hospital.

Goodson told the news station, "I just want my son back," and noted that "justice" or "retaliation" can't "help me get my son back."

"Every time I close my eyes, I see my son. That's my son, I birthed him. He wanted to be somebody. He wanted to be known," she said.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw acknowledged nothing can bring back the 14-year-old or any of the other victims to the city's "senseless gun violence." However, Outlaw said the police department can "ensure these cases are fully investigated" to help bring closure to the families.

No charges have been filed in the shooting, but officials told WPVI-TV, another Philadelphia news station, that they questioned two persons of interest. Police are looking into whether the message on Instagram was a factor in Samir's death, according to WTXF.

The Philadelphia Police Department told Newsweek the investigation is "active and ongoing" with homicide detectives, but declined to provide any further information.

Samir's brother, Khalil Jefferson, told WTXF that he was with his brother before he left school. He told Samir he was going to Burger King after school.

"We did everything together. We went to school together, we ate together. We did everything," Khalil said.