CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Dozens of people gathered Saturday to remember 18-year-old La’Rell Rushing, who was shot and killed on the city’s Southwest side, as speakers called for an end to violence.

Police said a 16-year-old shot at Rushing more than 20 times. Rushing had a 2-year-old son.

Lisa Jordan, a violence prevention program coordinator, spoke at the service about the impact of gun violence on young Black men in the community.

“Why is it that we have to stay here and we have to bury our kids, these young, black men that never had an opportunity?” Jordan said. “He won’t get an opportunity to raise his son. He won’t get an opportunity to be there for those birthdays and all those milestones. We have to do something different.”

Rushing had a criminal history, but his former teacher, Dominique Brown, said he was working to improve his life.

“La’Rell was trying. He worked at KFC and was so proud when he got that job,” Brown said. “He messaged me with excitement talking about me about a second job. He was going back to school because he wanted something different other than what he believed Cedar Rapids had to offer him.”

Speakers at the memorial also addressed the cycle of violence and the cost of retaliation.

“When you take the life of somebody’s loved one, understand that somebody loved them,” one speaker said. “Now its a perpetual cycle of violence because someone is coming for your loved one. And we don’t consider that, we don’t count up the costs.”

Jordan urged the community not to respond with more violence.

“Retaliation is not an option. It’s not an option,” Jordan said. “Because we don’t want nobody else getting killed. We don’t want nobody else going to prison.”

Brown directed a message specifically to young people in attendance.

“To my young people, let’s honor La’Rell, not just with our words, but with our actions,” Brown said. “Let’s choose something different. Let’s choose life. Let’s choose purpose. Let’s make La’Rell proud.”

Cedar Rapids police arrested 16-year-old Gerald Vance on Monday in connection with the shooting. He faces a first-degree murder charge. His next court hearing is scheduled for July 23.