Loved ones gather to remember teen who drowned in Quarry Lake

RACINE -- Family members and friends gathered at Quarry Lake in Racine Tuesday evening, June 19th to remember 16-year-old Travon Gray, who died after being pulled from the water on Sunday.

Officials say Gray was at Quarry Lake Park and jumped off of the pier with some friends. Divers were called to the scene to search for Gray. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

“I’m just hurting. That was my brother who I was close to. I just want my brother back. That’s all I want and need,” Gray’s sister, Zakiya Gray said on Monday.

At Tuesday's vigil, Zakiya Gray said she was happy everyone came out to Quarry Lake to support the family, and honor her brother's memory.

Gray's mother said Tuesday she is "tore up inside," and was too upset to speak with FOX6 News.

During Tuesday's vigil, there were people playing in the murky waters that took Gray's life just days ago, leaving his family wondering why.

"I wish they would stay of this water because I don't want nothing to happen to them like happened to my brother, and I just wish my brother could be here with us today," Zakiya Gray said.

Keyontae Howard and another friend were swimming with Gray on Sunday.

“We all jumped in one-by-one. Travon was the last one to jump in. I went back up and he didn’t come up behind us, so we jumped back in and we couldn’t find him because the color of the water — it was dirty,” Howard said.

Gray’s friends immediately called 911.

“The second we called them, we said we need a dive crew. We need somebody to come down here and get him,” Howard said.

Howard said he was in total disbelief.

“We were all shocked. We were, all of us, looking under the bridge to see if he caught on to the under,” Howard said.

On Monday, family and friends gathered at the Gray’s house to console one another.

“If anyone remembers him for anything, remember him for the person he was.  He was a great person, beautiful person, always made you laugh.  I miss him and I love him,” Marlo Thomas, a family friend said.

This is the first year Racine County has not had lifeguards at Quarry Lake. Gray's family said if there was a lifeguard stationed at Quarry Lake, it may have made all the difference in Sunday's incident.

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