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A Celebration of Life For James Currie Jr.

Family and friends celebrated and remembered the Dudley High student who was shot and killed Sunday, March 24. No arrest has been made.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — A fiery sermon at the funeral of a Greensboro teenager called for an end to gun violence as family and friends gathered to remember 17-year-old James Currie Jr.. The Dudley High School senior was killed on Sunday, March 24th. 

"Murderers face God, Murderer will be judged, you didn't give life and you don't have a right to take it," said Bishop W. L Washington, the Senior Pastor of Power House of Deliverance, Garden Cathedral.

The preacher, who has known Currie since he was a child, called for the shootings to stop.

RELATED: 'We're Planning a Funeral Instead of a Graduation,' Family Says After Dudley High Student James Currie Killed

"Thou shalt not kill. You don't have to pick up a gun. You don't have to sell drugs. You don't have to whore yourself out. You can trust in God. And if you trust in God, he will make away," Bishop Washington told the church packed with mourners and sympathizers from across the community. 

According to the Principal at Dudley High, Currie was a well-liked student who mentored elementary school students. He was expected to graduate with the Class of 2019, and his family said he was excited about attending college in the fall.

Bishop Washington said Currie was supposed to live well and do well and become the man that he desired to become and his fate was not God's Will.

"This young man should be still grinning and smiling about his graduation, his prom date. He should be cracking jokes, laughing with everybody else and getting ready for the next family reunion," said the Bishop. "Why!! Tell me, why did that happen? And we sit back and watch it happen again and again."

RELATED: 'I'm Dealing With The Loss Of A Son Right Now,' Says Dudley High School Principal On The Death Of One Of His Students

Currie is one of two high school students killed by gun violence in Greensboro this year. The incidents happened just weeks apart and both cases remain unsolved.

"It is time for us to stand up and stand against it you cannot play this off this has got to stop," Washington concluded.

Family members don't just want an end to gun violence they also want justice for Currie.

"Someone took him from us, and we're still wanting answers," said Beulah Miller, Currie's Aunt.

"Violence is not our nephew, this is not him and  this needs to just change, it needs to stop, we need to definitely do something to deter this the best way we can," said Sam Currie, Uncle 

Greensboro Police say they need the community's help to do that as they continue the investigation into finding to find a suspect in Currie's case and others.

"Sharing information talking to us and working together to get that information flowing back-and-forth to make the community safer," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Richey.

Greensboro Police say if you know anyone using a gun illegally, report the person to Gunstoppers. you can also help police find the person who shot James Currie by calling Crimestoppers. The number for both programs is 336-373-1000.

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