A 12-year-old Garland boy who was hit last week while riding his bike has died.
Jaylyn Jackson, 12, was pronounced dead Tuesday morning of injuries sustained when a sport utility vehicle hit him in front of the Northlake Baptist Church on June 12.
Residents of his tight-knit community remember Jackson fondly.
"He was a sweet little boy," said Shirley Haney, a nurse who tried to help him the day he was hit. "He hadn't been able to live his life yet, and it's very sad for his family; they've lost a child they really love and care about."
The Northlake Baptist congregation is planning to celebrate his life Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Sellers Middle School student ate lunch and played basketball at the church.
"Jaylyn had lots of close friends here that he would meet at our church and then, of course, school friends, neighborhood friends," said Sarah Wyatt, children's ministries pastor. "He was a big part of our community so, of course, it's a devastating loss."
The community will give testimony about Jackson and play some basketball in his honor. The day he died, he had a basketball in his backpack, police said.
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"His dad asked us that we play basketball tomorrow night because Jaylyn loves basketball," Wyatt said. "We never saw him up at our church without the basketball that he carried with him, and his dad just wanted a time of celebration."
"Jaylyn will not be forgotten in this community, that is for certain," she said.
Police said the Rowlett woman driving the sport utility vehicle was not speeding or using her phone.
