On Saturday night a single gunshot to the heart ended the life of 27-year-old Mark Tingling.
The one time 'ghetto youth' advocate - who had spoken out for his generation at peace summits was hanging with friends near his home on Neal's Pen road when two men entered his backyard and ambushed him. One of them had a gun and fired off a single shot to his chest area hitting the heart. He staggered onto the street and died on the spot.
Police today charged 23-year-old Richard White for the murder but even that arrest didn't make the loss easier in the hood where his childhood friends were mourning this senseless loss. Barrington Gentle says his friend didn't have to die.
Barrington Gentle, Mark's Friend
"They had no reason to shoot my boy. It was for a simple thing. They could have overcome this. He wasn't giving trouble out here. He was just enjoying life. This didn't have to happen."
"Mark was a youth who sold his weed and he loved the ladies. That is all he thought about, the ladies. He wanted to love them and that's why they playa hated him because he was a pimp. That's all he wanted in his life a family. He didn't trouble anyone."
Richard White was charged with murder in court and was remanded until his next court appearance on March 25th.