Gun violence is nothing new in today\u2019s society. It\u2019s a daily problem across the country. When it hits close to home, however, it makes people emotional, especially when it involves young lives coming to an early end.<\/p>\n
There is anger, sadness, shock and dismay.<\/p>\n
The fatal shooting of Raylin \u2018Lil Raylin\u2019 Harrison, a 17-year-old Dr. Phillips High linebacker<\/a>, three days after Christmas, prompted longtime Orlando youth trainer and coach Boris Jackson to say enough is enough.<\/p>\n Jackson, a popular coach known as BoJack to everyone who knows him, was born in Orlando, attended Carver Middle School, played at Jones High and then FAMU. He is a teacher at Dr. Phillips High and has been an assistant football coach at DP for the past 14 years, and he the girls track coach for nine years. Jackson has also managed his own personal non-profit training academy Speed Plus Sports for 27 years.<\/p>\n 17-year-old shot and killed in Orange County, deputies say<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWhen Raylin was shot and killed, it was a shock to my system,\u201d said Jackson, who not only trained and coached the young Harrison, but he also trained Dexter Rentz, 18, the Ocoee football player who was killed in a drive-by shooting during a post-funeral gathering in April of 2020<\/a>, just before leaving to play football at Louisville.<\/p>\n \u201cCould there have been some interventions? Could there have been some things that [Harrison] could have said to walk away? I\u2019m quite sure. But at that time, the situation was probably escalated.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s still unclear what happened on the fatal night of the Harrison shooting. Authorities are not commenting and still investigating. It took four years before police made an arrest in the Rentz shooting.<\/p>\n Christopher Burke, 26, was arrested in March of 2024. Another suspect police were searching for was killed in another drive-by incident. Burke continues to being held, awaiting trial, in the Orange County jail, on a bond of $1,750,000.<\/p>\n Jackson has seen a lot in his 51 years.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen some other incidents around Orlando and I just said I have to step in and do something,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n Saturday will be the first of what BoJack hopes to be many youth football camps under the title \u201cHuddle Up Orlando.\u201d Saturday is for students at Carver and Memorial middle schools, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Several local coaches have volunteered to work the event.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason is obviously to bring awareness to the children and the community about the choices kids are making with bullying in social media and in person and things like that,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cOur concern is our kids not knowing how to de-escalate situations and how to communicate with one another effectively.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to bring those guys and girls into a huddle and discuss some of the skills that are necessary to maneuver in this society.\u201d<\/p>\n