Hundreds gather in Arlington to honor boy, 14, who was killed in shooting accident
It should have been Riley Jordan’s 15th birthday this weekend, but his family and friends gathered in an Arlington park on Friday evening to celebrate his life in a different way.
The balloons and candles that filled Veterans Park at sunset were to honor Jordan’s memory: The 14-year-old was killed Feb. 20 in a shooting accident at his home.
Officers responded to the home in the 4600 block of Sausalito Drive and found Jordan unresponsive in one of the bedrooms, Arlington police said in a statement. First-responders tried to save the boy, but he died at the scene. Investigators later determined Jordan and several of his friends were playing with a gun right before the weapon fired.
The teen accused of firing the gun was arrested and faces a manslaughter charge, police said.
“[Riley] was a guy who had a constant smile on his face, he brought joy wherever he was, and he was the guy that made people feel comfortable,” said Tanner Brack, the student pastor at Arlington’s Gospel City Church.
Jordan, a freshman at Arlington’s Martin High School, found joy in simple things like listening to music and cheering on the Texas Rangers baseball team, and could often be seen wearing a “classic fit” of Crocs shoes and Nike socks, Brack said.
One of the ways to keep Jordan’s memory alive, Brack said, was to continue to celebrate him: Before releasing blue and green balloons, Brack led the crowd in the singing of “Happy Birthday.”
“He may not be here with us, but we still get to throw him a party and celebrate him,” Brack said.
Also on display at the vigil was Jordan’s and his friends’ deep commitment to the Christian faith: Brack spoke on a message of faith, and 15-year-old Chase Cremer, who had known Jordan since middle school, led a prayer circle toward the end of the event.
“We’re not gifted every day, and we need to realize that we need the Lord,” Cremer said. “I bet you, Riley is up there telling that to all of us. We can’t hear him, but he’s saying we need to get close to God.”
Among Cremer’s favorite memories of his friend were summers spent riding e-bikes at Arlington parks, including the park where the vigil was held Friday night.
“He made me feel like I was worth something,” Cremer said.
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 9:42 PM.
