Family & friends hold fundraiser car wash for murdered football player

Family and friends of 19-year-old Solomon Patrick, who was killed over the weekend in Cathedral, came together to raise money for his funeral expenses.

The car wash was held in Desert Hot Springs, where Patrick went to school and played football.

Read: Family of teen killed in Cathedral City: ‘Step up, speak up’

News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2 reporter Joe Galli was the only reporter at the car wash and spoke to some friends and family about what these last couple of days have been like.

“I have just been telling people that we can’t do it without you guys. It is so hard and I am still in shock. But I have been telling people we have to get through this we got to and if the tables were turned Solly would be out here doing it for everybody,” said Kalena Harris, Patrick’s stepmother.

Patrick’s biological mother was too shaken up to talk on camera. She was having former team mates sign Patrick’s football jersey which will be the shirt Patrick will be buried in.

“I just didn’t know what my last words to Solly would be. There’s not really much words I have right now but I just didn’t know what to say to him,” said Joey Martinez, who played football with Patrick and signed the jersey on the hood of a car at the car wash.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s like unrealistic, because who knew it would have been Solomon? He is such an amazing person and just full of joy and excitement and laughter. I don’t know why anyone would want to do that to him,” said Daivana Givens, Solomon Patrick’s Cousin.

Read: Family & friends gather to remember murdered football player

Another car wash will be held at the corner of Palm and Buena Vista in Desert Hot Springs starting at 2 p.m. on Friday.

If you can’t make the car wash, you can donate to a GoFundMe page started by Patrick’s family.