The boy had been active in his church, taking communion on the recent Palm Sunday and playing a wise man in the Christmas play. He helped the needy and a black history program.

“That’s the type of kid he was,” Walker said. “You could rely and count on him.”…

“There was no reason for the mother to believe he was gay,” said Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network spokesman Daryl Presgraves. “It just happens he was someone his peers targeted, calling him, ‘girlie,’ ‘gay’ and ‘fag.’ According to the mother, it was a daily occurrence.”