Hillsborough, N.J., teen dies from fatal punch in yard

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. (WABC) -- Beth Colon held on to her friend's hand Tuesday, afraid to let go.

They sat on the couch where her son sat just days ago, young and fun with a life of endless possibility ahead of him. Every day with him was a dream, his family said.

But every day since has been "torture beyond belief," Colon said, with her voice trailing off.

On Saturday, Jared Colon, 17, was punched by a 16-year-old boy. The punch was so hard that he died in the hospital.

Jared liked dirt bikes and fishing, and he loved taking care of the menagerie of animals he kept in his yard, the very yard where he was fatally punched.

"He really was about helping others, great old soul he was," said his mother.

On Tuesday, she decided to donate her son's organs. "He will give life to others," Colon said.

The boy who punched Jared is charged as a juvenile with reckless manslaughter and Jared's mother, who was planning his graduation from Hillsborough High School next year, is planning his funeral instead.

A fund in her son's name will be designated to help children like her son's killer, with anger control issues. That is what Jared would want, she said.

"Jared was an unbelievable kid. He was awesome," she said.