Mourners: Black teen killed by police more than a hashtag

Funeral services were held on Monday for a teenager shot and killed by police when he fled a traffic stop near Pittsburgh last week.

In this undated frame from video provided by John Fetterman for Lieutenant Governor shows Antwon Rose in a campaign announcement. Funeral services are being held Monday, June 25, 2018, for Rose, who was shot and killed by police when he fled a traffic stop in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. (John Fetterman for Lieutenant Governor via AP)

In this undated frame from video provided by John Fetterman for Lieutenant Governor shows Antwon Rose in a campaign announcement. Funeral services are being held Monday, June 25, 2018, for Rose, who was shot and killed by police when he fled a traffic stop in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. (John Fetterman for Lieutenant Governor via AP)

Updated: 4:44 p.m.

Classmates, teachers, family and neighbors of Antwon Rose Jr. described him Monday as a caring and charismatic young man who deserves to be remembered as more than just the latest hashtag given unarmed black men killed by police.

The funeral for Rose, 17, was held in a school auditorium six days after he was fatally shot by a police officer as he fled a traffic stop in a town near Pittsburgh. He would have been a senior.

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The funeral program included a poem Rose wrote in 2016. In it, he wrote about being “confused and afraid” and wondering what path his life would take.

“I see mothers bury their sons,” he wrote. “I want my mom to never feel that pain.”

A person attending the funeral for Antwon Rose Jr. embraces a police officer near the hearse on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Swissvale, Pa. Rose was fatally shot by a police officer seconds after he fled a traffic stop June 19, in the suburb of East Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Rose was a passenger in a car pulled over by Officer Michael Rosfeld because police said it matched the description of a car wanted in a shooting in a nearby town.

As Rosfeld was taking the driver into custody, Rose and a second passenger fled.

Rose was an avid skater and skier who also played the saxophone. His favorite color was purple, and some mourners wore that color in his honor.

Mourners displayed signs reading “Justice for Antwon” and “#SayHisName” in the funeral procession.

One of the vehicles in the funeral procession for Antwon Rose Jr. has a message displayed as it arrives at the Woodland Hills Intermediate school on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Swissvale, Pa. Rose was fatally shot by a police officer seconds after he fled a traffic stop June 19, in the suburb of East Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

The messages in the windows of some of the cars were the only outward sign of protest after a week of demonstrations calling for the officer who shot Rose to be charged in the shooting. Protesters said there would be no demonstrations Monday out of respect for the family.

Rose’s shooting remains under investigation by the county district attorney. No charges have been filed.

His mother, Michelle Kenney, told ABC News in an interview over the weekend that the officer “murdered my son in cold blood.”

“If he has a son, I pray his heart never has to hurt the way mine does,” she said. “But I think he should pay for taking my son’s life.”

Kyle Fogarty shows the program for the funeral for Antwon Rose Jr. on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Swissvale, Pa. Rose was fatally shot by a police officer seconds after he fled a traffic stop June 19, in the suburb of East Pittsburgh. Fogarty said he was a classmate of Rose and had to attend the service. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

The case is among several across the country in recent years that have ignited a national debate over race and policing.

Rosfeld, who shot Rose, is on administrative leave. He told WTAE-TV last week he could not discuss the shooting but said he was getting a lot of support from law enforcement. His attorney did not return a call Monday seeking his comment on the family’s statements.

A video taken from a nearby house shows Rose and another passenger running from the car. Three gunshots can be heard, and the passengers can be seen either falling or crouching as they pass between houses. It is unclear from the video if Rosfeld yelled for them to stop.

Authorities said two handguns were retrieved from the car, and District Attorney Stephen Zappala said an empty gun clip was found in Rose’s pocket.

Lawyers for his family have said no evidence has been produced to show Rose posed a threat to police.

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