Mother remembers her teenage son who was shot and killed Monday

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – The family of Kylete Owens is grieving after a mass shooting took his life on Memorial Day morning.

Kylete Owens, 17, was killed in a shooting in the 300 block of River Front Drive around 2:50 a.m. Monday. A large group gathered in the area and then gunfire began, killing Owens and injuring 6 others.

Carmen Owens is Kylete's mother. She said Kylete was loved by many and had a great personality. She said nothing would be the same without him and she wanted the guns out of town.

“Words cannot express how much I will miss my baby,” Carmen said.

Kylete was a sophomore in Lansing schools. His mother said he planned to move to Bloomfield next year, but those plans were put on hold.

“My son and his friends were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Carmen said.

Police say it happened near Rotary Park downtown. A large gathering formed overnight and two groups of people had problems with each other. It ended with shots being fired into the crowd.

“My baby left for no reason. I can not explain it. I wouldn’t want a woman, a man, or a parent in my place,” Carmen said.

Carmen said Kylete loved to dance and have fun. She said he was the life of the party, had so many friends and was known for his hair.

“His hair was everything to him. He came closer 'oh mom, look at my hair, it's growing.' Look mom, my hair is longer than your weave,” Carmen said.

Carmen said Kylete wasn't the only member of their family shot to death on River Front Drive. She said Kylete's 16-year-old cousin was currently in critical condition in hospital. She said gun violence in the city was too much.

“If guns are off the streets, we won't have violent gun killings. If guns were no longer on the streets, this wouldn't be a problem. That's where I am with guns, I hate them. He was an innocent bystander and this happened to him,” Carmen said.

The Lansing School District said it is supporting students with counseling and other services. Lansing police say no arrests have been made yet, but they have video of the incident and are reviewing it. They are asking anyone with information to call Lansing police.