Friends and family heartbroken over the loss of 13-year-old Jeremiah Butrick-Chase came out to remember him Sunday evening.
They gathered at Walnut Grove Park in Omaha, sharing memories of Butrick-Chase who was known by classmates at Andersen Middle School in Millard as “JT." He died Friday night of injuries suffered Friday morning when he was hit by a car while crossing the intersection of 144th and Harrison.
“Monday’s going to be really hard,” says classmate Maria Sheridan. She’s known JT since the fifth-grade and they shared a class together. Sheridan says JT gave her a hug on Thursday, but she didn’t know it would be the last. “He was very nice, very athletic, never picked on anybody and helped everybody."
Even those who didn't know the eighth-grader came to grieve. Lisa Turner and her son were at the accident scene and tried comforting him until the ambulance arrived. “It struck us both very hard. Life is over so quickly, I just can't imagine him not being here."
She says the turnout of classmates at the vigil says so much about the kind of person JT was. “I wish I did know him, hopefully I'll see him in heaven.”
JT’s parents were also at the vigil and shared their own memories of their son. They reassured everyone that JT wouldn’t want anyone to be sad about his death.
Jeremiah's funeral will be held at Braman Mortuary and Cremation Services near 144th and Q streets at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Students will wear orange on Wednesday, JT’s favorite color.
