Eighteen-year-old Jarvon Coles, a high school senior and local football standout, became a victim of a drive-by shooting this month. A week later, a large gathering assembled to honor Coles, and in a touching act of generosity, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts covered the funeral expenses, as reported by NFL Media.
Hurts, who hails from the Houston area, took notice of Coles’ tragic passing and decided to extend a helping hand. He contributed to the March 16 service at Light of the World Christian Fellowship Church, which attracted a diverse gathering including family, friends, pastors, teammates, and local authorities, as reported by KHOU. The ceremony featured a video message from Hurts himself to the family, the outlet added.
Coles, a student at North Shore High School, a rival of Hurts’ Channelview High School, lost his life after being found unresponsive with a gunshot wound following a house party in Humble on March 10.
Police suspect one or more shooters fired from a block away before fleeing in a vehicle. Coles, an accomplished all-district linebacker with aspirations to attend Lamar University, held a remarkable 4.1 grade-point average.
“You cannot measure the impact he had on and off the field in our program,” North Shore assistant coach Kyle Herridge posted of Coles. “Truly an incredible human being. Prayers are needed for his family, our student-athletes, our staff, and the entire North Shore community.”
Hurts has a history of intervening in the fight against gun violence. The Pro Bowler actively participated in an Eagles initiative aimed at buying back firearms in collaboration with local law enforcement.
He also teamed up with Penn Medicine to visit hospitalized victims of gun violence, aiming to shed light on the impact of such violence on individuals and communities.
