A viewing and celebration of life service was held Friday for a Mount Vernon teen who was fatally shot two weeks ago.

Hundreds paid their respects forZyaire Fernandez at Mount Vernon's L.I.V.E Church, which was under heavy security. 

Pastor Damon Mack says the viewing and celebration of his life was positive and full of life - just like Fernandez.

"At 14 years old, we didn't get an opportunity to realize his full potential, because he was snatched away from us so early. But he was full of life, and that came out through his family and through his friends, that Zyaire was literally just an overall joyous person," he says. 

Pastor Damon Mack gave the eulogy, which included a call to action.

"We can do better than this, and this situation of our young people being tragically taken from us doesn't have to be the norm. And we can all collectively come together and do better than this," he said. 

The Mount Vernon STEAM Academy ninth grader was shot in the courtyard of Mount Vernon's Levister Towers apartment buildings.

Police arrested 21-year-old Tyrese Coghiel. He has since been charged and pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.  

MORE