The death of a Topeka teen has the community mourning his loss. Now his family is sharing his memory and hoping to spread a message. 

Tre’veaughn Rice-McFarland was a 15-year-old sophomore at Topeka High. His family said he loved art and language and one day hoped to travel to Japan.

On Tuesday, March 19th Tre’s younger sister found him in his bedroom, dead from a gunshot wound. His death left his family shocked and devastated. Tre’s dad Willie McFarland said no one in the family saw it coming.          

“It’s a pain that you really can’t describe, and I wouldn’t wish this on nobody, because no parent should bury their child at all,” McFarland said.  

McFarland said just before his son’s death they had been playing computer games. That was a regular for the two who were very close. 

“We’d spend every second we could together. I mean we were almost like twins. We laughed the same, talked, walked. I mean we were almost like the same person,” McFarland said.  

Now Tre’s home is filled with pictures of him, and his many drawings. His autistic younger brother Keisean Rice teared up when talking about the memories the two shared. 

“My big brother taught me how to play games. He taught me how to ride a bike. He taught me how to do stuff I never knew how to do,” Rice said. 

Now Tre’s family has a message for other kids out there. 

“With them being kids and having so much to live for, you see your friend playing with a gun, even possessing a gun, tell somebody,” McFarland said. “All that no snitching and you’re not supposed to tell. If you feel like your friends could hurt themselves or possibly end their life you should really tell somebody. Because you don’t want nobody’s parents to go through this. It hurts. It hurts so bad.” 

The family is hosting a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night to remember Tre. You can find the details here.

If you want to help donate for funeral expenses you can make a contribution in Tre’s name at the Southwest Chapel of Dove Cremations & Funerals or donate to the GoFundMe here.