Charleston, WV (CNN) — Grief and sorrow after the death of James Means, a 15-year-old high school freshman who loved cars and dreamed of owning an auto body shop.
Police say he was gunned down Monday night by 62-year-old William Pullium after the two exchanged words near a local discount store.
Police say Pullium admitted to shooting Means because he felt threatened.
And in a jailhouse interview, Pullium said Means had a gun.
But authorities have said the teenager was not armed.
According to the criminal complaint, Pullium expressed no remorse, stating: “The way I look at it, that’s another piece of trash off the street.”
He then had dinner and visited a friend.
Federal authorities are looking into whether a hate crime was committed.
The penalty could be up to life in prison.
The teens family is now calling for calm and saying they believe justice will prevail.
On social media, a request for a few thousand dollars to help with the funeral expenses surged past $40,000 in just a few days.
Pullium remains in jail and his hearing is to come after the holiday weekend as a family and community mourn the loss of a young life.