Moussa Fofana.Photo: GoFundMe
Hawa Fofana prays for answers every day.
More than a month after her son,Moussa Fofana, was fatally shot outside a sports complex in suburban New Jersey, the grieving mother and small business owner says she’s no closer to knowing who killed the 18-year-old high school soccer star, or why it happened.
“It has been very difficult for me and my family,” Hawa tells PEOPLE. “It’s hard, very hard. We really want answers, and that’s my prayer — that somebody comes forward and there is justice. I want to understand — why? What did Moussa do to you?”
Moussa, a talented athlete with dreams of playing soccer professionally, was shot to death on June 6.
A second student was also wounded in the shooting, but is expected to fully recover.
Hawa, who immigrated to the United States from Liberia in late 2002, tells PEOPLE her son was a kind person who was focused on realizing his dream of becoming an international soccer star.
“Every parent knows their child, and Moussa, he was not a trouble maker,” she explains. “His goal was to play soccer and pursue this big dream he had. He practiced every day, because he wanted to be the best.”
Moussa Fofana.Facebook
Moussa was born in New York City and then lived in New Jersey for several years. He went to live with his grandmother in Liberia’s capital of Monrovia when he was 5, and he returned to the U.S. when he was 11.
A GoFundMe campaignhas been launched online to help the family.
While she’s trying to stay strong for the rest of her family, Hawa acknowledges there are times when that’s impossible.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
“It’s so hard to have your child taken away from you, in a snap, and still have no answers,” she says. “Moussa wasn’t a quiet kid. He was very outgoing. Even when he was in the house, he was on the phone, or he was playing with his brother or helping me with the cooking in the kitchen. And now, the house is just silent.”
Hawa says the love and support she has felt from the community “is still helping” her get through this difficult time, but says getting the truth about what happened to Moussa will help more.
“I hope I get answers very soon,” Hawa says. “It only takes one person to do the right thing. Me and my family, we pray for that person — that they will have the courage to come forward.”
A reward of $50,000 is being offered for tips leading to the shooter’s identity. Confidential information can be supplied to Essex County Sheriff’s Office’s CrimeStoppersusing this link. Tipsters can also call (877) 847-7432 if they have information they want to share.
source: people.com
