A 10-year-old Atlantic County boy who was shot at a high school football game last week died shortly before the game was resumed at the home field of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles offered their field to finish the final 17 minutes of the game Wednesday following the shooting that killed 10-year-old Micah “Dew” Tennant. There were a lot of emotions before the game, as the players learned about the death on their way to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Pleasantville player Ernest Howard wore No. 10 for the game to honor the boy.
“I went back to the field early this morning and I saw in the same spot he sat in and I was just there sitting, wondering why it happened to him. It just really hurts,” Howard says.
Tennant was honored with a moment of silence before the game. The mayors of Pleasantville and Camden say that the day was about more than just football. They say that they hope their teams take that message home with them.
“We’ll get through this. This is what really defines who we are, not the type of event that happened, but how we respond to it,” says Pleasantville Mayor Jesse Tweedle. “The response has been overwhelming.”
Camden Mayor Frank Moran says that the shooting at Friday night’s game is not something that the children should have to be exposed to.
“First, we send our prayers out to the family of Micah and we're going to come together. This has brought two cities together in urban America. This is not something that our kids should be living day in and day out,” he says.
The parents of the players said that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on the Eagles’ field. Some of the professional players came out to meet the high school teams.
"I know the last time they were on the field it was really unfortunate. The circumstances are not ideal and it's something that you never wish for or even think would even happen,” says Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. “So for us it's just trying to bring up some joy and some hope and put a smile on their faces."
Camden defeated Pleasantville 22-0. They will move on to play Cedar Creek High School in the playoffs on Nov. 30.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor says that Alvin Wyatt is facing murder charges in the shooting of Tennant. An adult was also shot and another child was grazed. At least five other people are also facing charges related to the shooting.
Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statement following Tennant’s death that read in part, “No child deserves to have their promising life cut short, especially by indiscriminate and senseless gun violence. No parent deserves to bury their child. We will hold Dew's memory close, and we will remember his name, as we continue our work to make New Jersey safer for all of our families."
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.