15-year-old dead after shooting at motorcycle event in Newark

NEWARK (WABC) -- There are calls to stop the violence after a teenager was killed in a shooting during the annual Mother's Day motorcycle blessing event in Newark Sunday.

The Essex County Prosecutor says 15-year-old Al-Shakeen Woodson was pronounced dead following the shooting at University Hospital.

Monday evening they wrote notes and left candles for the teen they knew as "Monk".

15-year-old Al Shaheen Woodson. His parents are inconsolable.

"He didn't deserve this, I miss my baby," said Sherkimea Zigler, the victim's mother.

"He never got in trouble. He just came over here to watch the bikes, just to watch the bikes," said Rajauan Woodson, the victim's father.

The bikes were part of a Mother's Day ritual in Newark, the annual Blessing of the Bikes, to kick off riding season.

But after the event ended Sunday, there was gunfire and grief.

"All he ever wanted to do was be a football player," Zigler said.

As the event wound down, Woodson was one of four people shot, but the only one to die. Prosecutors haven't said who they believe was the target.

"Absolutely this thing got out of control," Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said.

But Mayor Baraka says it may be time to rethink the annual event, which he says has gotten too big for the city to police.

But organizers say the bikers were long gone before the guns came out. Monday night they pushed back against the mayor.

"It's sad because everybody here voted for him to be in the place he's here now. And for him to slap us in the face and say like I didn't know about it, it's like throwing us under the bus," said Cutty Luciano, of the Made Men Bike Club.

Back at the scene, few if any were blaming the bike event.

Not Shalja Hightower who lost her own daughter, Iofemie, to gun violence in Newark eight years ago and now works to support victims of tragedy.

"People look at this as being normal. There's nothing normal about a mother burying her child to senseless gun violence," said Hightower, of a Gift of Love.

So in the late afternoon light they prayed. They prayed for justice for the teen known as Monk. They prayed for peace.

"Our children deserve diplomas not death certificates. In the name of Jesus," a preacher said.

Three other adult males suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated at area hospitals.

Police are looking for at least two gunmen in the shooting.