Friends and family said this should never have happened as they remember 17-year-old Tyler Rhodes. The Albany High School student was stabbed to death over the weekend near Hoffman Park in Albany. Our Brandon Walker has more.
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ALBANY, N.Y. -- "We shouldn't be here right now. We shouldn't be here. Especially for Tyler. That kid was a great kid. He was harmless," said Edo Rizuaenoeic, a friend of Tyler Rhodes.
A great kid, a friend, a mentor, remembered Wednesday, the victim of a crime he spoke so eloquently against.
"From my knowledge of Tyler, he was always the type of kid to stay away from bad stuff. He never wanted to be around that kind of stuff," said Tek Austin, a friend of Tyler's.
Hundreds filed in and out of New Comer Cannon Funeral Home to say a final goodbye to 17-year-old Tyler Rhodes, stabbed to death Saturday at Hoffman Park on South End.
"He was a nice kid. He wouldn't harm no one. He was friendly with everyone," said Sead Jusic, a friend of Tyler's.
Police have arrested two suspects for their apparent roles in Rhodes' death. They, too, teenagers whose lives are at a crossroads.
"Tyler lost his life. Now these kids have to deal with that they did and honestly, over something that could have been dealt with by talking," Rizuaenoeci said.
Outside, friends console one another with a hug. The pain still raw as they attempt to come to grips with this new reality.
"Sometimes kids will break down in the hall and they will stop by and encourage each other. Same for the staff," said Dr. David McCalla, principal of Albany High School.
Though despite the sadness, this day, Tyler's day, is one those who knew him best say he wouldn't want any tears.
"He wouldn't want anybody crying right now. He would want everybody getting together, you know, it's time for sadness. He wouldn't want to see anybody sad right now," Austin said.
Tyler's friends and family say in the weeks to come, they will use Tyler's story to speak out against teen violence in Albany.