ATLANTA, Ga – Friends, family and classmates of a slain Mays High School football player gathered on a gray, rainy Monday to say goodbye to the beloved teen during his funeral.
Marquez Montgomery, 15, was shot and killed last week at his northwest Atlanta home by his cousin, 21-year-old Dontavious Montgomery. Dontavious has since been charged with the murder.
Marquez, a defensive tackle for Mays, played his final football game just weeks ago, the end of a strong playoff season for the school. But hours later, the teen was gone.
Montgomery’s football community rallied together to help his grieving family; they created a Go-Fund-Me page to help cover funeral expenses. "It came to fruition from some of our parents; they wanted to do something good for the family," said Mays Football Coach Niketa Battle.
Soon, that "something good" spread: students, teachers then others beyond Mays High started pitching in. Even APS Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen tweeted a link to the fund.
"(It's) Getting a lot of good support from the community. Folks that don't even know the kid, but everyone wants to help out," Battle said. "If you go through and read it, read some of the things the kids are saying, you're like, 'Wow, he impacted a lot of people.'"
Marquez was buried at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church on Campbellton Road.
