A Jacksonville mother is sharing memories of her son Keiron Griffin, who was killed last week, and the legacy she hopes to create through his name.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville mother is sharing more about the son she says she wants people to know beyond the circumstances surrounding his death.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirmed 26-year-old Keiron Griffin was killed July 30 after officers responded to the Place at Capper Landing apartments on Lem Turner Road following reports of a shooting.



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JSO said officers found Griffin with at least one gunshot wound. Several people were detained, but no arrests have been announced.

Griffin’s mother, Helena Haywood, said she wants people to remember the person her son was.

“If I can describe Keiron, he was a fun-loving Jaguar fan,” Haywood said. “He loved the Jaguars. He was family oriented, he loved the family and he loved his four-year-old to death.”

Haywood said Griffin was her only child and the two shared a close relationship.

“I’m thankful for the 26 years that I had with my son because ma ma, we were close,” Haywood said.

Haywood said Griffin was also a father to a 4-year-old son, KJ, and spent much of his free time with his family.

“He would pick his son up every day from daycare,” Haywood said. “They’ll go get something to eat or they’ll come here and eat, and then we’ll sit around and talk.”

Haywood said Griffin built a career as a merchant seaman after high school. She said he chose that path after deciding college was not the right fit for him.

“He loved his son and he loved sailing,” Haywood said. “He had been sailing since he was 19, so he had been a merchant seaman since he was 19.”

Haywood said Griffin worked hard to pay for his training and create opportunities for himself.

“He worked at Amazon and paid his way for merchant seamen school,” Haywood said.

Now, Haywood said she wants to create something in his memory called “Keiron’s Way.”

“I plan on starting a foundation and it’s gonna be called Keiron’s Way,” Haywood said.

She said the goal is to provide support for people who may need help navigating difficult situations and to help others pursue careers like the one Griffin built.

“I want to be able to help somebody go and fulfill their dream because there’s a lot of people that want to do it but they can’t afford it,” Haywood said.

Haywood said she wants her son’s name to continue making an impact.

“I just want everybody to know, remember that name, because it’s not going anywhere,” Haywood said.