The mother of a teenage shooting victim spoke out Tuesday against the youth violence that took her son’s life earlier this month. 

“He wanted to be out of this environment,” said Arielle Brown, mother of Da’Mar McKinney. “He wanted better, that's all, and he talked about it all the time. He just wanted better.” 

According to police, 17-year-old McKinney, of Youngstown, was found with an apparent gunshot wound outside the Packard House apartments in Warren on Feb. 11. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died of his injuries. 

At the Glenwood Grounds Cafe in Youngstown Tuesday, local artist Ron Moore, Jr., presented a hand-drawn portrait of the boy to Brown. 

“The only gift that I know that I have is through art,” Moore told 21 News. “I try to use that to shine a little light and let these families feel a little bit of love.” 

McKinney’s life is also being honored with a living memorial from the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation. A tree dedicated to McKinney will be planted in the Mohican-Memorial State Forest in Ashland County as part of the foundation's Trees for Peace initiative.

“This is how I know that my baby made a mark on the world. … That's how I know that God don't play about me, and he definitely don't play about my children,” Brown said. 

Brown described her son as a loving brother and dedicated student with a bright future. He graduated early from high school at 16, and wanted to go to college in Cincinnati.

“He lit up a room. He would light up a village,” Brown said. “He had a smile so bright, so lovable. You would never see him mad.”

“He loved playing video games, playing basketball, annoying his brothers,” she added with a laugh. “He was a jokester. He did play a lot. He liked to play a lot of pranks.”

Ashaud Johnson and Willis Smith IV, both 18 years old, have each been indicted on one charge of aggravated murder with a firearm specification in connection to the Feb. 11 shooting. They also face felony charges of tampering with evidence. 

Both suspects pleaded not guilty to all charges at separate arraignments this week, and have pre-trial dates set for March. 

Brown told 21 News her son did not know either of the defendants. She said McKinney drove to Warren on the day of the shooting to drop off a friend, and was caught “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” 

To end the youth violence, Brown wants local leaders to give children more to do in the community. 

“There's not too much for them to do. And then when they do have something for them to do, it's not enough,” Brown said. “All these kids have to run to is the streets. No matter how good of a mother you are, or good of a parent you are, they still have nothing to do at all.” 

She also called on other parents to “pay attention to your kids a little more, because some of them don't have that love, some of them don't have that guidance, so they have no choice but to turn to the streets.”