"I miss my son. I miss him very much. The street took him from me," Ronnie Pridgett said as dozens gathered to remember Montell "Telly" Pridgett.
Telly was shot last weekend on Pennsylvania Avenue. The 24-year-old leaves behind a child, his longtime girlfriend, and family and friends who say he was known for his personality. They gathered outside Umar Boxing on Friday night to help each other heal.
"I can't even go in my house... his clothes, his games, his shoes at the front door, everything, and I can't go in there," said Paris Davis, Telly's girlfriend.
Telly's coaches say he was on the cusp of a pro career. He was described as a talented boxer who trained with city native and IBF Junior Lightweight Champ Tank Davis.
"I'm numb. I can't believe it," Davis said as Coach Marvin McDowell expressed his appreciation of all the support. "I'm just glad that everybody showed up. I'm very happy."
As Telly was remembered, family and friends wrote loving messages on a pair of his boxing gloves. They dropped money in the ring where he trained to help the family cover memorial services.
Telly's family says donations for his burial can be dropped off at Umar Boxing or at The Upton Boxing Center, both places where he trained.
