He Has A Name: Raphael Ward Shot Over Parka Jacket In New York City (PHOTOS)

Posted January 7, 2013 by Christina Coleman for Global Grind Staff

Raphael Ward, 16, was shot to death when he refused to give up his parka jacket during an attempted robbery. PHOTO SOURCE: Facebook

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In the wake of a slew of shootings over material items, a 16-year-old teen was shot and killed because he refused to give up his winter parka jacket in New York's Lower East Side.

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In a sad and puzzling twist to the murder, Ward posted a prophetic and eerie status on his Facebook wall.

According to the Daily Mail, Ward posted this to his Facebook just hours before his death:

"I'm Dead."

At about 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Ward was confronted by a group of people who asked him to hand over his Marmot parka, a trendy coat that can retail for up to $600. When he refused, a gunman fatally shot him in the chest. According to police, the shooting happened in front of the DeWitt Reformed Church at 280 Rivington St., just a short walk from the home he shared with his mother and his little brother.

His friend, Nicholas Ramos, 18, was getting a slice of pizza across the street when he heard the shots. He waited a minute before running out to help his friend. Before dying, it is reported that Ward stumbled into a Tearedan convenience store where he told workers he'd been assaulted by a group of people after his jacket.

Friends and family are speaking out about the teenager's death, describing Ward as a caring older brother.

"It’s heartbreaking," said friend Will Claudio, 16. "We’ve been close friends since elementary school at PS 140 and he was always a good student, never in trouble, just a real good kid."

"He was a baseball player, we played together with the Hawks and the Orioles, Boys Club teams, until we got too old and then he played basketball and he was a great basketball player in the community leagues, but he was also really humble."

Police have released a description of the gunman, saying that he was 5-foot-6, 120 to 140 pounds, and was wearing a dark wool hat and ski mask. They are reviewing security surveillance cameras to find the identity of the shooter. This marks the first homicide in Manhattan in 2013.

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We're keeping the Ward family in our thoughts and prayers.

SOURCE: Daily Mail