My kind and caring 10-year-old student, Keith Frierson, should still be alive | Opinion

An unthinkable tragedy has struck our school community. On Dec. 30, 10-year-old Keith “KJ” Frierson was shot and killed by another 10-year-old who had allegedly gotten hold of his father’s gun.

I am a teacher at a local elementary school, and I was one of Keith’s teachers. I cannot express how heartsick this had made our whole school community.

Keith had made excellent progress in reading since returning to school from the pandemic and was one of my sharpest students in math. But it’s not his academic growth I will remember most about him. What I will remember most is Keith’s character.

Keith was a caring and kind student who was always willing to help. At our school’s Fall Festival last year, our class had painted cans to knock down at a can toss — one of the games at our festival. Keith was so excited when he came up to the can toss.

“Is that one mine?” he asked. It sure was.

Keith also excelled at sports. At recess, he could be found playing basketball or, most recently, a new game called “Teammate,” where he led a large group of students. Keith was often a leader. He had many friends, and other students looked up to him. When I was away from school for a week at the end of October to attend my 92-year-old mother’s funeral, Keith watered my plants while I was gone.

Right before winter break last year, Keith and another student helped me carry my teaching supplies and remnants from our holiday party to my car. I had no idea that would be the last time I would see Keith.

Keith was part of our after-school program, and a group of students kept calling him to come and start an outdoor game. I remember his exact words at the time: “Calm down!” he said. “I am helping my teacher carry things to her car.”

Keith’s family was already dealing with the loss of his father, which happened just about a year before his death. His mother is a nurse who was working hard to support her two sons on her own. Keith still has a brother in sixth grade at our school.

His family did not deserve this, and neither did he.

After Keith enters the pearly gates of heaven, which I’m sure is where he’ll be, I can only hope our heavenly father can let him know just how highly we thought of him and how sorely he will be missed.

We returned to school on Jan. 8. As we continue with the school year, Keith’s family, his young friends and his classmates will be grappling with a life lesson they should never have had to learn.

Those wishing to donate to help the family may do so at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kj-frierson.

This story was originally published January 14, 2024 at 5:00 AM.