A grieving family and community leaders are desperate for answers after a 9-year-old boy was killed earlier this year in a vehicular shooting.

Dominic “D.J.” Young Jr.’s father reportedly told authorities he and the victim were inside a rental truck on January 20 when someone began shooting. The boy was struck during the gunfire and transported to an area hospital, where he died a short time later.

As part of an ongoing effort to identify a viable lead in the case, Young’s mother, Christine Anderson, has teamed up with a former Kansas City council member to offer a $15,000 reward for information, as reported by WDAF.

Anderson described her son as “a loving child” who helped others and “dreamed of becoming a professional football player one day.”

She said “it just doesn’t seem real” to live without her son.

“I am still grieving,” Anderson said. “That was my only son. That 9-year-old meant a lot to our family.”

Former councilman John Sharp has assisted in helping the grieving mother establish a cash reward to be offered for information leading to a conviction in the case. In coordination with the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers, the efforts have resulted in a reward of $15,000.

“The murder of children is just unacceptable, and we’ve had too many in Kansas City,” Sharp said. “Kansas Citians should be angry, saddened and outraged that our homicide rate in the city is so high and particularly that we are having these homicides with children.”

As WDAF previously reported, Young’s great grandmother has been among the family members pleading for the killer to come forward.

“Please turn yourself in,” Denise McCraney said. “Give up. Tell the Lord that you are sorry. Repent of this that you may be saved and forgiven, because in my heart I will find a way to forgive you.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kansas City Police Department or the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

[Featured image: The Kansas City Star, video screenshot]